According to a study from the Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts, a diet rich in fiber may lower the risk of heart disease in women.
The study of more than 38,000 female health professionals age 45 and older found that those who ate the most fibre--about 26 grams daily--were less likely to develop heart disease or suffer a heart attack than women with the lowest fiber intake, about 18 grams a day, over 6 years.
The effects of insoluble fiber, found in seeds and the skin of fruit, and soluble fiber in fruit and oatmeal, were similar.
These findings support recommendations that North Americans boost their consumption of fibre through fruits, vegetables and whole grains to 25 to 35 grams daily. Women are advised to consume 25 grams fibre each day; men need 38 grams.
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