Eating Whole Grain Cereal Reduces Risk of Heart Failure

...men who eat whole-grain breakfast cereal regularly are less likely to develop heart failure than those who eat it rarely or never.

Heart failure is a condition in which the heart is unable to pump blood as effectively as it should. The risk of developing heart failure is about one in five for the average 40-year-old man or woman, the study's researchers say.

Other studies have suggested that a diet rich in whole grains, such as nonrefined breakfast cereals, can provide a variety of health benefits. But researchers say it's the first study to look at the relationship between breakfast cereal and the risk of heart failure in a large group.

If further studies confirm these results, adding whole-grain cereal may be a relatively risk-free way to reduce the risk of heart failure.

Whole Grains Aid Sleek Belly And Make For Healthy Heart

In a study of obese adults at risk of heart disease, researchers found that those who trimmed calories and increased their whole-grain intake shed more belly fat and lowered their blood levels of C- reactive protein or CRP.

CRP is a marker of chronic, low-level inflammation in the blood vessels, and both abdominal fat and CRP, in excess, are linked to heart attack and stroke.

In contrast, dieters in the study who mainly ate refined grains, like white bread, were able to lose weight, but they trimmed less fat from the middle and showed no change in CRP.

The findings offer yet more incentive for Americans to opt for whole grains over highly processed versions, according to the researchers.