Scientists find the whole grain “sweet spot” for better heart health

Eating four to six servings of whole grains each day may improve several major risk factors for cardiovascular disease, according to new research published September 15 in the European Heart Journal .

The findings come from a systematic review and meta-analysis that combined evidence from 87 clinical trials examining how whole grain consumption affects cardiovascular risk factors.

Across the studies, diets higher in whole grains were associated with improvements in body weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood glucose. Together, these changes could help lower the long term risk of heart disease.