Live Longer & S T R O NG E R
Good-for-you grains Eat up! They’re the key to a healthier heart and a slimmer body.
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womansday.com
September 2013
You’ll flatten your tummy The soluble fiber in whole grains and other foods can help you shed the kind of fat that accumulates around the belly and may contribute to heart disease. One study found that every increase of 10 g in soluble fiber per day decreased belly fat by a rate of almost 4% over five years.
You’ll lower your blood pressure Researchers at Tulane University found that people with high blood pressure were able to bring it down considerably by adding an extra 7 g of fiber or more to their daily diets.
CHRISTOPHER STEVENSON/GETTY
Upping your intake of fiberrich whole grains is a smart move for your ticker: The ongoing Nurses’ Health Study found that women who routinely ate whole grains such as whole-wheat bread and brown rice had a 30% lower risk of heart disease after 10 years than those who opted for refined grains such as white bread. But that’s not the only benefit—there are more reasons to chow down.
