Two new reports are casting doubts on the way that millions of people regularly take their meals.  One says a diet rich in meat, eggs, milk and cheese could be as harmful to health as smoking.  The other drops the recommended maximum daily sugar intake to a level that will represent a drastic cut for many.

The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) says that sugar should account for less than five percent of what people eat each day if they are to avoid such sugar-related health risks such as weight gain, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and tooth decay.  And that’s going to be a tough adjustment for some.

On a 2,000 calorie a day diet, five percent equals 25 grams.  A 375 ml can of Coca-Cola has 40 grams of sugars.  One Tim Tam has 8.2 grams of sugar.  Now consider how much sugar is hidden in processed foods from breads and cereals to sauces and entrees. 

And then there’s protein.  Animal protein. 

America’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) tracked more than 6,800 patients and concluded that high levels of dietary animal protein – meat, eggs, milk, and cheese – in people younger than 65 is linked to a fourfold increase in their risk of death from cancer or diabetes.  And it almost doubles the risk of dying from any cause over an 18-year period.  Many of the harmful effects charted in the study were almost completely wiped out when the protein came from plant sources, such as beans and legumes.

It casts serious doubt on the long-term effects of popular high protein diets.  Instead, it suggests that people should eat a low to moderate protein diet until the age when they lose weight and become frail – and then boost the body's protein intake to stay healthy.