A recent study using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey cemented the connection between a dietary and lifetime heart disease risk in adults to the age of 59. For quite some time now high fiber diets have been linked to improved hypertension, reduced cholesterol levels and weight loss.
Hypertension, cholesterol and body weight are known to be the main determinants of long term risk for cardiovascular disease.
So a national and assorted group of 11,000 men and woman were questioned for factors that included history of diabetes, total cholesterol, diet, blood pressure and smoking status. The results were then formulated to show a lifetime risk for heart disease. In this study it was found that 25 grams or more of fiber each day could provide enough protection against a heart attack. Especially high in sodium and calories processed foods were determined not to provide the same degree of protection when balanced fiber obtained from fresh vegetables and fruits.
This study consisted of an analysis of questionnaires compiled as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey lead by Dr. Hongyan Ning. She was actually quite shocked at the results and noted that, “younger (20 to 39 year old) and middle age (40 to 59 year) adults with the highest fiber intake, compared to those with the lowest fiber intake and showed a statistically significant lower lifetime risk for cardiovascular disease and as for young and middle age adults, now is the time to start making fiber a big part of your daily diet and that by including more fiber in your diet you may improve your long term heart disease risks.
It is important to make sure that the fiber in your diet comes for the most part from raw vegetables nuts, seeds and fruit. Based on this diet researchers now recommend a minimum of 25 grams of fiber each day to healthily lower your risk of cardiovascular disease.