HHS HealthBeat (April 5, 2011)

A bowl of whole grain goodness

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

An apple a day is good for you, but a bowl a day of whole grain cereal also may keep the doctor away – even if you’re a doctor.

Researchers saw the benefit in blood pressure, in a study of the breakfast habits of close to 13,300 male doctors over more than 16 years. At Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, researcher Jinesh Kochar:

``Those consuming seven-plus servings of whole-grain breakfast cereal each week had a 20 percent decreased risk of developing hypertension as compared to those who reported none, or rare, consumption.’’ (11 seconds)

Refined grain breakfast cereal – even a bowl a day of it – didn’t have the same benefit.

The study was presented at an American Heart Association conference on nutrition and physical activity.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: May 7, 2011