Research conducted at the University of Otago in New Zealand has shown a direct link between higher fiber intake and a reduction in the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and colon cancer.
A systematic study conducted over nearly 40 years showed that patients with a diet rich in fiber, compared to those who consumed the least fiber, had a reduced risk of death and diseases related to coronary heart disease, heart attack, type 2 diabetes, and colon cancer by as much as 15-30%. This research will be used by the World Health Organization to make new recommendations on fiber intake.
25 grams of fiber
The author of the study, Dr. Andrew Reynolds believes that the results show the need to include more fiber in the diet. "Our study showed that we should consume at least 25 to 29 grams of fiber per day, but most of us consume less than 20 grams," - Dr. Reynolds explains. Study co-author Professor Jim Mann confirms that the findings are groundbreaking. "This research is important because there is still some confusion in the public about how we choose our meals and how our choices affect our risk of certain diseases. We were all aware that fiber has a beneficial effect on our health, but now we have hard evidence for it."
Groundbreaking research
The analysis included 58 clinical trials and 185 studies from around the world that look at the effects of fibre, whole foods and the glycaemic index. Professor Mann believes the study is unique because it looked at a range of indicators and disease courses. Previous studies have only looked at one factor and a small number of diseases. The study showed that people who increased the amount of fiber in their diet had lower body weight and cholesterol levels. "We found that a high-fiber diet has a huge impact on protecting the body against heart disease, diabetes and cancer," explains Professor Mann.