By Pure Matters Fiber has been tied to a reduced risk of
developing heart disease, some cancers, diabetes and obesity,
the researchers added. In addition, fiber helps bowel movements
and lowers cholesterol levels, blood sugar and blood pressure.
It also promotes weight loss and reduces inflammation, they
noted. "The 2010 USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans
encourages consuming fiber-rich fruits, vegetables and whole
grains," said lead researcher Yikyung Park, a staff scientist at
the institute. "The guidelines recommend 14 grams per 1,000
calories of dietary fiber per day; that's 25 grams [of fiber] a
day. Our study is in line with these recommendations, and
suggests dietary fiber intake is associated with lower
mortality," she said. The report is published in the Feb. 14
online edition of the Archives of Internal Medicine. For the
study, Park's team collected data on 388,122 men and women who
took part in the National Institutes of Health-AARP Diet and
Health Study. As part of the study, participants fille