A comprehensive analysis of dietary fiber’s impact on heart health, combining data from multiple U.S. and European studies involving over 336,000 participants, revealed significant protective effects against coronary heart disease. The research, which tracked participants for six to 10 years, found that every additional 10 grams of daily dietary fiber intake was associated with a 14% reduction in coronary events and a 27% decrease in coronary-related deaths.
While both cereal and fruit fiber showed notable benefits, with fruit fiber being particularly protective, vegetable fiber surprisingly showed no significant impact on heart disease risk. The protective effects were consistent across both men and women and remained significant even after accounting for various lifestyle factors and dietary habits. Overall, the study’s findings support the importance of incorporating fiber-rich foods, particularly from cereals and fruits, into daily diets for cardiovascular health benefits.
Image from Unsplash by Brittany Neale.