Eating a high-fibre diet from a young age could dramatically improve the health of your heart. A recent study by Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine found that adults aged between 20 and 59 years old with the highest fibre intake had a significantly lower lifetime risk of cardiovascular disease.
The findings from the study were presented yesterday at the American Heart Association: Nutrition Scientific Sessions 2011, in Atlanta. Although this is the first known study to show the influence of fibre on the lifetime risk of cardiovascular disease, it has long been known that high-fibre foods can help people to lose weight, lower cholesterol and improve hypertension.
The study used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which was a national representative sample of 11,000 adults. Participants were analysed in terms of diet, blood pressure, total cholesterol, smoking status and history of diabetes and then a formula was used to predict the lifetime risk for cardiovascular disease.
Young (20 to 39 years) and middle aged (40 to 59 years) adults who had the highest fibre intakes, compared to those with the lowest intakes, showed a significantly lower lifetime risk for cardiovascular disease. In adults aged 60 to 79 years, fibre intake was not significantly associated with a reduction in lifetime risk of cardiovascular disease. It is therefore possible that the beneficial effects of dietary fibre may require a long period of time to be achieved.
