The practice of giving cow's milk to our children and continuing to drink it through adulthood is taken so for granted in this country that many believe it's a universal concept. Not only that, but I'll bet there are a large number of folks who assume this has been going on since the days of Adam and Eve.

These ideas couldn't be further from the truth.

Doctors often get a bad rap when it comes to giving food advice to their patients. Even the Centers for Disease Control have reported that fewer than 50% of patients receive advice from their physician to eat low-cholesterol and low-fat foods.

Well, I guess I'm one of those fortunate "fewer than 50%." When my cholesterol reached 230 my doctor told me what foods to cut and what foods to add.

The milk industry has created several reasons why we need our daily dose of milk. We've heard some of these for so many years now that they have become part of our thinking. It's time to examine the myths, lies and propaganda about cow's milk.

1. Cow's milk is pasteurized to make it safer.

Milk is pasteurized at over 170 degrees.

Over 25% of the American adult population is at risk of developing hypertension. This disease has the potential to cause premature death because it is a silent killer that has no obvious symptoms. Therefore, the real key to solving this growing problem in our country is prevention.

Such things as regular exercise, no smoking, maintaining a normal weight, and eating a balanced diet are among the regulars in the advice list doctors pass on to their patients.

Soy and soybeans appear to have taken the modern world by storm. Every day new products emerge from the grocery store promoting soy-based products for their healthful benefits. The advantages of soy products can't be emphasized enough because they are much more than just another supplement. Soy has been proven by the FDA to assist in combating heart disease, the number one killer in America.

Everyone seems to understand the importance of calcium in a diet. But when it comes to the other side of the coin, magnesium, few people realize just how important this mineral is to their well-being. It's estimated that only 25% of the American population today receive the recommended amounts, which is 150 - 250 mg for children 10 years of age and under, and 300 - 400 mg for adults.

It began over five thousand years ago. The soybean grew wild and was cultivated by Chinese farmers. They called them tatou, meaning the "greater bean." There is a stone mural in Northern China that is believed to date back before the Common Era, showing soymilk and tofu being made. In 2838 B.C. the Chinese Emperor Sheng-Nung wrote about soybeans and listed it as one of five sacred crops, along with barley, rice, millet and wheat.

When people think fiber, images of cavemen eating bark off a tree may enter their minds. Just the word "fiber" scares taste buds and could even cause some to utter "ugh," but the fact of the matter is; fiber isn't all that bad. In fact, fiber found in food today can even taste good!

It's no secret that fiber is a must when talking about a healthy diet.

Sadly, there is no way to eliminate menopause. What can be done is to eliminate some of the symptoms of menopause, which virtually all women will have to endure in their lifetime.

One of the biggest complaints women have when going through menopause is the dreaded hot flash. How many women have awakened from a deep sleep and realized they're burning from within? The only cure is to strip, turn the air on to a freezing 50 degrees and listen to their spouse complain the next morning about how they froze to death all night! It happens to women everywhere in every country; but wait a minute, maybe not!

In fact, recent studies have found that Asian women suffer less from hot flashes than their Western counterparts.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the number one killer of both men and women in the United States. One CVD that affects Americans daily and kills more Americans than any other is coronary heart disease.

In October, 1999, the FDA authorized the use of health claims about the role of soy protein in reducing the risk of coronary heart disease on labeling of foods containing soy protein.