Three Daily Servings Of Whole Grain Foods Reduce Risk Of Coronary Artery Disease

Eating three portions of whole grain foods a day significantly reduces cardiovascular disease risk in middle-aged people, mainly by lowering blood pressure, a U.K. clinical study has found. Researchers divided 206 healthy middle-aged men and women into two groups: one group ate three servings of whole grain foods a day; the control group ate refined grain foods. After 12 weeks, the researchers measured lipid and inflammatory marker concentrations, insulin sensitivity, and blood pressure. They found that systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure were significantly reduced (by 6 and 3 mm Hg, respectively) in the whole grain foods group compared with the control group. “The observed decrease in systolic blood pressure could decrease the incidence of coronary artery disease and stroke by 15% and 25%, respectively,” the researchers concluded.