Fiber helps heart attack survivors live longer
Fiber, particularly from whole grains, benefits heart attack survivors
Heart attack survivors may live longer if they get the recommended amount of fiber in their diets, a new study suggests.
Many studies have found that fiber lovers have a lower risk of developing heart disease.
But experts said the new findings suggest fiber — especially from whole grains — has benefits after a heart attack as well.
Researchers found that of more than 4,000 U.S. adults who'd suffered a first-time heart attack, those who ate plenty of fiber were less likely to die over the next decade.
And fiber from grains seemed particularly important, the researchers reported April 29 in the online edition of BMJ.
People who ate the most "cereal fiber" — from foods like oatmeal, barley and whole-wheat pasta — were 27 percent less likely to die during the study period, versus those who ate the least.
— John Petrick