As appeared in the Globe and Mail, Thursday January 29, 2004
--Michael Kesterton
MKesterton~globeandmail.ca

Almost 50 years ago, Ancel Keys and his wife, Margaret, wrote a best-selling book called Eat Well and Stay Well. It promoted a low-fat Mediterraneau diet featuring olive oil, lots of fruits and vegetables, chicken and fish, and the occasional glass of wine, says the Mineapolis star Tribune. Prof Keys followed his diet for decades. This week, he turned 100 years old. Ever the skeptical scientist, Prof. Keys won't take credit for his longevity. "It can't helpt it", he said. "If you stay around long enough, it happens." Best known for his research into heart attacks and diet, he appeared on the cover of Times magazine in 1961 and was dubbed "Mr. Cholesterol" by the popular press. Prof Keys is digusted with the current American diet: "It's bad and getting worse". The Atkins Diet, he says is "rubbish" and many new diets seemed to be based on "supposition and imagination."