Eating Whole Grain Can Cut Mortality Risk by up to 20 Percent

A new study shows that consumption of just 28 grams of whole grain like oat can reduce risk of dying due to cardiovascular disease.

According to a study published by researchers at Harvard School of Public Health, individuals who consumed at least 28 grams of whole grains every day reduced their risk of dying by 20 percent due cardiovascular disease compared to people who ate no whole grains, UPI reported. The findings of the study were based on two other long term studies that included 74,000 women and 44,000 men over 26 years.

"These data indicate that higher whole grain consumption is associated with lower total and CVD mortality in US men and women, independent of other dietary and lifestyle factors. These results are in line with recommendations that promote increased whole grain consumption to facilitate disease prevention," researchers wrote.

Fox News reported that replacing one serving of red meat with whole grains cut risk of dying by 20 percent while the risk was reduced by 8 percent if refined grains are replaced by whole grains. While the research did not show any reduced risk of death due to cancer, researchers did not rule out the possibility that the study was limited in its ability to document impact of whole grains on specific cancer types.

"This study further endorses the current dietary guidelines that promote whole grains as one of the major healthful foods for prevention of major chronic diseases," said Qi Sun, senior author of the study in a news release. The study was published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine.