Whole grains protect against a range of diseases

Regular consumption of whole grain foods has long been associated with a lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

Researchers reviewed data from the Iowa Women’s Health Study, which followed over 40,000 women for 17 years to investigate the effect of whole grain consumption on the rate of other inflammation-related deaths.

Inflammatory disease as an underlying cause includes most infectious disease and a number of chronic degenerative diseases, for example asthma, chronic-obstructive pulmonary disorder, emphysema, gout and Crohn’s disease.

The researchers found the reduction in death associated with inflammatory disease, linked to habitual whole grain consumption, was greater than previously reported for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

They suggested the range of phytochemicals in whole grains may be protective by inhibiting oxidative stress, which is linked with inflammation.

Source: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, July 2007