MARIKA SBOROS: Can eating fibre protect one from heart attack?
Some experts say a new study is a landmark and compelling evidence of benefit, while others say it’s dangerous and the authors are spreading a false public health message
Your parents probably often told you to eat fibre to stay “regular”. Now, the authors of a major study in The Lancet say that fibre from wholegrain cereals, breads, pasta, fruit, nuts and legumes will protect you from heart attack and premature death. The New Zealand researchers say fibre has “enormous protective effects” and also reduces your risk of type 2 diabetes and specific cancers, particularly colon cancer. They say their study is a —“defining moment” that should be “written in stone” in public health policy. It’s also “good news” for high-carbohydrate, high-fibre diets and “bad news” for “fashionable”, low-carb diets. Some experts say the study is a “landmark” and “compelling evidence” of benefit. Others say it’s “dangerous” and the authors are “cheating” and spreading a “false public health message”. The study is a meta-analysis of 185 observational studies with data on 135-million person-years and 58 clinical trials involving 4,635 adults. Low-carb diets were not included...
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