Whole Grains and Heart Health

In addition to visiting your Chiropractor regularly for spinal adjustments, a diet rich in whole grains may help to maintain optimal cardiovascular wellness.  The growing support for the relationship linking cardiovascular health and whole grains was investigated in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 1999. 

Benefits

The experimenters conducted an experiment on 75,521 women to determine whether an association would exist between a reduction of coronary heart disease risk and high intake of whole grains.  The results suggested that a negative relationship existed between whole grain intake and coronary heart disease risk.  As intake of whole grains increases, coronary heart disease risk decreases according to the results of the study.[1] Another study conducted in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition presents further support for the promising relationship between heart health and whole grains.  The Iowa Women’s Health Study investigated 34,492 postmenopausal women between the ages of 55 and 69.  The results of the study indicated that increased consumption of whole grains was associated with decreased incidence of ischemic heart disease.[2] As previously stated, along with regular spinal adjustments, a diet emphasizing unprocessed whole grains such as quinoa, brown rice, or buckwheat may not only help keep your heart healthy but also your overall health and vitality.

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[1] Liu, S., Stampfer, M., Hu, F., Giovannucci, E., Rimm, E., Manson, J., Hennekens, C., and Willett, W.  (1999).  Whole grain consumption and risk of coronary heart disease:  Results from the nurse’s health study.  American Journal of Clinical Nutrition:  70(3):  412-419.

[2] Jacobs, D., Meyer, K., Kushi, L., and Folsom, A.  Whole-grain intake may reduce the risk of ischemic heart disease in postmenopausal women:  The Iowa women’s health study.  (1999).  American Journal of Clinical Nutrition:  68(2):  248-257.