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Obviously, we need a certain minimum diet to survive. But overabundance is also a problem, as we learn in banner headline after headline about the detrimental effects on the cardiovascular system and other areas of the body. But is that so? In his article, W. Wayt Gibbs explores the question, "Obesity: An Overblown Epidemic?"

Also in the news a lot lately is the idea that cutting calories may prolong youthful vigor into old age. "Calorie Restriction and Aging," by Richard Weindruch, explains how animals that consume one-third fewer calories in studies display greater vitality than animals fed a normal diet. If the regimen sounds punishing, don't despair. "The Serious Search for an Antiaging Pill," by Mark A. Lane, Donald K. Ingram and George S. Roth, offers hope for finding a drug that mimics the effects of calorie restriction.

Amounts are one factor, but what we eat is also a critical influence on our abilities to stay strong and active into the twilight years. Science has learned much since the "four food groups" that my mother nagged me about as a child. "Rebuilding the Food Pyramid," by Walter C. Willett and Meir J. Stampfer, reviews the latest research on creating a proper diet.

Last, as the holiday season is upon us, let us make a toast to another source of vital spirits. In "Drink to Your Health?" Arthur L. Klatsky tells us how small to moderate amounts of alcohol can lend cardiovascular benefits. Cheers. --The Editors

ON THE MENU

Birth of the Modern Diet by Rachel Laudan
Ever wonder why dessert is served after dinner? The origins of modern Western cooking can be traced to ideas about diet and nutrition that arose during the 17th century.

Rebuilding the Food Pyramid by Walter C. Willett and Meir J. Stampfer
Dietary guides introduced in 1992 and 2005 have led people astray. Some fats are healthy for the heart, and many carbohydrates clearly are not.

Drink to Your Health? by Arthur L. Klatsky
Three decades of research shows that drinking small to moderate amounts of alcohol has cardiovascular benefits. A thorny issue for physicians is whether to recommend drinking to some patients

Future Feast by Arthur L. Klatsky
Even the meat and potatoes are being reinvented: the meat could come from a test tube, and the potatoes could ward off cholera.

IN THE BODY

The Risks on the Table by Karen Hopkin
More than half the foods in U.S. supermarkets contain genetically modified ingredients. Have they been proved safe for human consumption?

Does the World Need GM Foods? Interviews by Sasha Nemecek
Two leading figures in the debate over genetic engineering defend their stances.

Seeds of Concern by Kathryn Brown
Are genetically modified crops an environmental dream come true or a disaster in the making? Scientists are looking for answers.

Edible Vaccines by William H.R. Langridge
One day children may get immunized by munching on foods instead of enduring shots. More important, food vaccines might save millions who now die for lack of access to traditional inoculants.

OVER A LIFETIME

Calorie Restriction and Aging by Richard Weindruch
Eating less-while maintaining adequate nutrition-is a recipe for longer life in many animals. Might it help humans as well?

The Serious Search for an Antiaging Pill by Mark A. Lane, Donald K. Ingram and George S. Roth
In government laboratories and elsewhere, scientists are seeking a drug able to prolong life and youthful vigor. Studies of calorie restriction are showing the way.

Unlocking the Secrets of Longevity Genes by David V. Smith and Robert F. Margolskee
A handful of genes that control the body's defenses during hard times can also dramatically improve health and prolong life in diverse organisms. Understanding how they work may reveal the keys to extending human life span while banishing diseases of old age.

Obesity: An Overblown Epidemic? by W. Wayt Gibbs
Dissenting researchers accuse government and medical authorities-as well as the media-of misleading the public about the health consequences of rising body weights.

Dying to Be Thin by Kristin Leutwyler
Eating disorders cripple-literally-millions of young women, in large part because treatments are not always effective or accessible.