High-fiber diet may help people live longer

BEIJING-- Medical scientists recently find that a high-fiber diet reduces the risks of death from cardiovascular, infectious and respiratory diseases.
This finding is contained in a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine last week.
The finding is based on a diet study from the National Institute of Health and American Association of Retired Persons.
In this nine-year study, researchers collected data from nearly 400,000 people aged 50-71. People who ate a diet rich in whole grains, fruits and vegetables were 22 percent less likely to die than those who ate less fiber.
“The lower death rates were associated with dietary fiber from whole grains,” said the lead author, Dr. Yikyung Park, a staff scientist at the National Cancer Institute.
He added that grain is also rich in beneficial vitamins, minerals and chemicals.
A fiber-rich diet has long been known to benefit the digestive system, and it’s also thought to reduce the risks of some cancers and diabetes.
High-fiber food such as raspberries, peas, barley and oat bran are all considered good choices for a fiber-rich diet.