Increase Dietary Fiber, Reduce Disease Risk
In keeping to the topic of all things bean, I found a nice article this week entitled Increased Fiber Intake Reduces Several Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors In High Risk Subjects.
The study was done by Estruch, R. et al, J Epidemiol Community Health, 63: 582-588 (2009). A serious study about a serious concern, with a result that proves that it can simply rectified by a few simple changes to diet and lifestyle.
It is important to understand, that this study assessed high risk subjects, those already with advanced disease states. It is also important to understand, that cardiovascular disease is a very broad term, and that many other health problems stem from and are related to various stages of cardiovascular disease.
With that said, several cardiovascular disease symptoms were looked at, such as insulin sensitivity / diabetes / pre-diabetes, elevated blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, abnormal lipid profiles, elevated inflammatory blood markers (C-reactive protein levels), weight gain / waist circumference ratios, and out and out heart attacks and strokes.
Again, this study looked at people who already had diabetes, had suffered a heart attack or stroke, and were in advanced stages of cardiovascular related disease. Fortunately, most of us are not at that point (we like to think that it is because of our delicious and healthy Wholly Macro cuisine!). And this study proves this to be true!!
It states that "the subjects in the highest 20% of dietary fiber intake showed the most statistically significant changes in health. The change in each individual risk factor suggests that increasing dietary fiber consumption may be instrumental in the population cardiovascular risk profile, therefore preventing or delaying future cardiovascular disease events".
I would say that eating the type of food that we prepare here at Wholly Macro would put us at the very top percentile of dietary fiber consumption. The top 1%. The word prevention above, is key. By making wise dietary changes now, we can prevent many of the currently epidemic "pre" full blown cardiovascular diseases that could occur in our bodies, impacting our health and life in a very negative way. And it is so simple to make healthy dietary choices instead of unhealthy ones.
Choose whole grains, dried beans, every kind of fresh vegetable in existence, whole grain noodles, sea vegetables, nuts and seeds, and seasonal fruits in moderation. These are the dietary fiber kings and queens!! And the Wholly Macro delivery menu is just full of these choices each week.
It is important to understand, that freshness and variety are key. Packaged, processed, canned, and instant foods really do not contain the dietary fiber that promotes health. Many prepared food counters such as those found at health food stores and gourmet markets, create platters of food that "look" fresh, but are in fact put together with canned beans, instant reconstituted grains, and other packaged ingredients. They are lacking in useable dietary fiber as well as in vital life force energy and vitamin and mineral nutrients.
Please consume as full a variety as you possibly can of whole grains, beans and traditional bean foods such as tofu and tempeh, and the endless array of beautiful vegetables nature provides, to insure your good best possible overall health.
As always.
Gayle and Jaime