A recent study at the Harvard University says that eating a small bowl of porridge a day can lead to a longer and healthier life. Eating whole grains can reduce the risk heart disease. Even though whole grains are well-known to promote good health, its link to a longer life has not yet been revealed, not until now.
For the study, the researchers studied more than 100,000 people for more than 14 years. They monitored their diet and health. It started in 1984 wherein the participants signed up for the program. By 2010, the participants were followed up and apparently, more than 26,000 have already died.
The people who ate whole grains like porridge, brown rice, and corn were less likely to get sick and they got protected from heart problems and other diseases. Oat meal has been consumed mainly for breakfast by athletes because its energy supply lasts longer.
They added, for every one ounce (28 grams) of whole grains a day, the risk for sudden death will be lessened by 5% and deaths from heart problems were reduced by 9%. Dr. Hongyu Wu of Harvard School of Public Health and lead author of the study, "These findings further support current dietary guidelines that recommend increasing whole-grain consumption. They also provide promising evidence that suggests a diet enriched with whole grains may confer benefits towards extended life expectancy."
Also, past studies also suggest that whole grains can boost bone density, decrease risk for diabetes, heart disease and even hypertension. Oatmeal contains a fiber called beta-glucan and it was known to decrease cholesterol levels in the body. Another compound called avenanthramide prevents plaque accumulation and fat deposits in the arteries.
A new study recommends that if more people eat whole grains, thousands of lives can be saved every year. Heart diseases are the world's top killer. Hence, lifestyle changes and physical exercise are needed to add to a longer life.