What you put in your body directly creates your health. Your diet has been definitively associated with four of the ten leading causes of death in the United States — coronary heart disease, stroke, Type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers — and is likely linked to most of the other causes of death, as well. The foods you eat can increase or decrease your risk of heart disease, disability, and death. A diet that contributes to atherosclerosis is a major, modifiable risk factor, which means that you can make a powerful difference simply by choosing good foods.