Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
It's never too late to do something good for your body. Even something as simple as eating more whole grains can make a big difference.
Richard Langford/ Eats High Fiber Foods: "MY DOCTOR TOLD ME I SHOULD BE EATING HIGH FIBER FOODS BECAUSE HE THINKS THAT'S GOING TO MAKE ME LIVE A LITTLE LONGER."
And a new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association backs up that belief. The study looked at people over 65, and found that dietary changes can reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian/ VA Medical Centers: "OUR STUDY SUGGESTS THAT EVEN IF YOU'RE OVER AGE 65, YOUR DIET CAN INFLUENCE YOUR HEALTH, AND THAT IF YOU EAT FIBER FROM WHOLE GRAINS, BRAN AND CEREALS, YOU MAY REDUCE YOUR RISK OF A FIRST HEART ATTACK OR STROKE."
The study found that people who ate dark breads, such as wheat, rye and pumpernickel, and high fiber breakfast cereals, saw the biggest reduction in risk.
And they didn't need to eat a lot to see the benefits.
Dr. Mozaffarian: "INTERESTINGLY, WE SAW THE LOWER RISK WITHOUT A LARGE AMOUNT OF FIBER INTAKE. FOR EXAMPLE, IF PEOPLE ATE APPROXIMATELY TWO SLICES OF WHOLE GRAIN BREAD PER DAY, THEY HAD A 15 PERCENT LOWER RISK. PEOPLE EATING EVEN MORE FIBER HAD AN EVEN LOWER RISK."
And of course whole grains are not the only source of fiber. Previous studies show eating fresh fruits and vegetables can also help improve the health of your heart.
