Mixed
Regular consumption of whole grain foods is associated with a significant reduction in the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), specifically showing a 26% risk reduction in meta-analyses of cohort studies.
To lower your heart disease risk, aim for about three servings of whole grains daily. This could be one bowl of bran or oat cereal and two slices of dark bread. Ensure your overall diet is low in saturated fat and cholesterol to maximize these benefits. Whole grains offer more protection than refined grains or isolated fiber supplements because they contain essential bran and germ nutrients.
Meta-analysis of 12 studies providing appropriate risk ratios for CHD showed that regular intake of whole grain foods was associated with a 26% reduction in risk for CHD.
Why this rating
Based on a meta-analysis of 12 population-based cohort studies with consistent inverse associations, though observational data cannot prove causality.
Source
Whole Grain Foods and Heart Disease Risk
James W. Anderson et al. · Journal of the American College of Nutrition · 2000
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