Foods rich in plant fiber (fiber) provide effective protection against heart disease, especially for women, reports PLOS One.
Researchers at the University of Lund, Sweden, assessed the eating habits of more than 20 Malmoe residents for the risk of heart disease. Thirteen different dietary components were considered, including vegetable fiber, fats, proteins and carbohydrates.
Women whose diets contained a lot of plant fiber were nearly 25 percent less likely to suffer from heart disease compared to those who ate low in fiber. For men, the effect was significantly weaker, but stroke was less common in men who consumed a lot of plant fiber.
While the reason for this difference between the sexes is unclear, it is possible that for women the fiber comes from healthier foods (vegetables and fruit) than the bread that men prefer.