Whole-grain cereals - the case for 'oat cuisine'
A daily fix of bran or porridge doesn't sound all that fun - or appetising. But starting the day with a bowl of whole-grain cereal helps reduce the risk of heart failure, according to a new study.
Researchers say that people eating breakfast cereals that contain at least 25 per cent oats or bran every day are 28 percent less likely to develop heart failure. The risk of heart failure decreased by 22 per cent in those who ate a whole-grain breakfast cereal from two to six times per week and by 14 per cent in those who ate a whole-grain breakfast cereal up to once per week.
"There are good and powerful arguments for eating a whole grain cereal for breakfast," says Luc Djoussé, the assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School who led the study, sponsored by the National Cancer Institute and the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute in the US. "The benefits are not just for kids but also for adults. A whole grain, high-fibre breakfast may lower blood pressure and bad cholesterol and prevent heart attacks."
From 1982 to 2006, Professor Luc Djoussé and his team monitored the cereal consumption of over 10,000 doctors. Doctors are known to eat healthier diets and take more exercise than the average person. But the finding that a small tweak to the diet can make a difference even in this population strengthens the result, says Dr Djoussé.
Djoussé hopes that the finding will persuade people to consider eating heart-healthy diets, including a regular whole-grain, high fibre breakfast for its overall health benefits. "The study shows that even in a population with overall healthy behaviour, it is possible to see less heart failure in those who eat a whole-grain cereal breakfast."
Yet, despite studies pointing to the importance of starting the day with a healthy meal, a YouGov survey conducted in January for the Breakfast Cereal Information Service revealed that while 93% of adults and 86% of children understand the significant nutritional benefits of breakfast, nearly half of the UK adults (48%) are still not eating breakfast every day.
Take a look at New You's Sylvana Franco's video guide about why Carbohydrates are good for you.
Find out more about Getting to the Heart of a Healthful Diet from the Harvard Medical School.
