FIBER & HEART HEALTH STUDIES

Eating a couple of apples a day may significantly cut heart disease risk, according to a study of the health benefits of fiber consumption, suggesting that such high-fiber carbohydrates should be embraced, not avoided.

Researchers at the University of Minnesota evaluated 10 studies involving more that 350,000 people, and found that for every 10 grams of fiber consumed per day the risk of developing heart disease decreased 14 percent and the risk of dying from heart disease decreased 27 percent.

Fiber from fruits such as apples appeared to be slightly more protective than other sources of fiber, lowering the risk of coronary disease death by 30 percent. These findings make the case for increasing consumption of high-fiber apples and other foods for better health.