A study conducted by the National Institutes of Health claims that people who consumed high amounts of fiber, especially those from grains, have a significantly lower risk of dying over a nine-year period when compared to those who had a lower intake of fiber.
Whole grains, beans, nuts, fruits and vegetables, contain fibers that helps the body in many ways, including lowering the blood cholesterol levels, improving blood glucose levels, and bowel movements.
Earlier studies have also suggested of fiber may be linked to a decreased risk of developing heart disease, diabetes and some cancers, including: cancer, but the evidence is conflicting as to whether or not there is any relationship between consuming fiber and longevity.
This study involved almost 400,000 people who are part of a larger diet and health study. They were between the ages of 50 and 71 years, when the study began.
The findings will appear in the archives of internal medicine. Researchers led by the national cancer Institute, concluded “that a diet rich in dietary fiber from whole plant foods may provide significant health benefits.”
In particular, the researchers analyzed data from 219,123 men and 168,999 women who completed a detailed food questionnaire in 1995 in 1996 to determine the amount of fiber they consumed on a day-to-day basis.
Those with heart disease, diabetes and most cancers were left out of the study. At the beginning. Researchers also excluded those who reported “extreme” intake of fiber.
The participants fiber intake usually range from almost 13 to approximately 30 g per day and man and 11 to 26 g per day in women.
In the United States, the current dietary guidelines recommend that people consume 14 g of fiber per 1000 calories consumed per day or about 28 g a day for a typical adult diet of 2000 calories.
Over an average of nine years of follow-up, 20,001 and 26 men and 11,000 331 million died. Over half of the deaths were caused by cardiovascular disease and cancer.
The researchers divided the participants into five groups from the highest to the lowest intake of fiber. Those who consumed the most fiber were 22% less likely to die over the nine-year period, compared to those who consumed the least amount of fiber.
Men with the highest intake of fiber had a 23% reduction in the risk of dying while women experienced about a 19% reduction.
The study also found that significant reductions in the risk of death from heart disease, pulmonary and infectious diseases among both men and women, with those who consumed the greatest amount of fiber experienced the highest benefit. There was also a reduction in the risk of dying from cancer that was found in men, but not in women.
According to Dr.Yikung Park because men have higher rates of death from cancers of the liver, bladder, kidney, esophagus, and had a knack, these tides in which the risk is lowered by a diet rich in fiber may be the reason why th they experience the greatest reduction.
The study also evaluated the typhus fiber consumed and found that in both women and men the greatest health benefits came from whole grains, as well as pains, although the benefits of beings was more significant for women than for men. Festival consumption also appear to provide benefits, but the a proven did not result is statistically significant increases in longevity.
Fruit base fiber had no impact on longevity.
The researchers controlled for other significant factors that affect our health, including smoking, obesity, and exercise.
Source: archives of internal medicine