We know that a high-fiber diet can be a critical heart-healthy lifestyle change for young and middle-aged adults, but it’s one that’s worth the switch. Scientists from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine studied adults between 20 and 59 years old a few years ago and found that those with the highest fiber intake had a significantly lower estimated lifetime risk for cardiovascular disease than those with the lowest fiber intake.
As reported in Prepared Foods, lead author Hongyan Ning, a statistical analyst in the department of preventive medicine at Feinberg, examined data for the study from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a nationally representative sample of about 11,000 adults. Ning considered diet, blood pressure, total cholesterol, smoking status and history of diabetes in survey participants and then used a formula to predict lifetime risk for cardiovascular disease.