Dear Jacqui,
There is a history of heart disease among the women in my family. Is it true that high fiber diets can reduce the risk?
Alics

Dear Alice,
A recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association reports that eating a high-fiber diet, especially breakfast cereals, reduces the risk of coronary artery disease in women. This study which is quoted monitored over 65,000 women, age 37 to 64 for over ten years. Those women who incorporated the highest levels of fiber in their diets (11.5 grams/day) found their risk of developing heart disease was a full 23% lower and the risk to have a major cardiac event was 47% lower.

You can get high fiber cereals in most health food stores and most supermarkets carry the following high fiber brands: Kellogg's All-Bran or General Mills Fiber One. Each of these cereals contains 13 grams of fiber in half a cup or Post 100% Bran contains 10 grams of fiber in half a cup.

Don't forget, to protect your health and heart add a portion of exercise each day and limit animal fats in your diet (cheese, butter, fatty meats, nothing fried!). Finally, add five helpings of fruit and veggies for added vim and vigor and all around well being.

Jacqui

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