A study from Gifu University has provided new insights into how diet, particularly rice consumption, may influence heart health.
The research, focusing on the Japanese population and published in Nutrients, indicates that a rice-rich diet might be beneficial for heart health, especially in reducing the risk of coronary heart disease or coronary artery disease.
Coronary heart disease occurs when the coronary arteries, responsible for supplying blood to the heart, become clogged and narrow due to plaque buildup. This plaque consists of fats, cholesterol, and other substances, leading to narrowed and stiffened arteries.
The Japanese diet, known for contributing to a longer life expectancy and a lower death risk from heart disease compared to Western diets, often features rice as a staple food. A typical Japanese meal includes rice along with soup and various side dishes.
Despite the prominence of rice in Japanese cuisine, scientific studies exploring the relationship between rice-based diets and heart disease have been limited.
In this study, researchers at Gifu University sought to examine the link between rice consumption and the risk of heart disease, comparing it with the consumption of other grain dishes like bread and noodles.
The study involved 13,355 men and 15,724 women aged 35 years and older who were part of the Takayama Study. The participants’ diet intake was assessed through a food questionnaire.
Interestingly, the findings revealed a significant association between frequent rice consumption and reduced heart disease risk in men, although this correlation was not as strong in women.
Moreover, the researchers observed that higher rice intake was associated with eating more soy products and seaweed and less meat and eggs. In contrast, neither bread nor noodles showed a significant link to heart disease death risk.
These findings suggest that in Japan, choosing rice as a primary grain dish is likely accompanied by healthier food choices in side dishes, which could contribute to the prevention of heart disease.
This study underscores the potential heart-healthy benefits of a rice-based diet and highlights the importance of overall dietary patterns in maintaining cardiovascular health.
For those concerned about heart health, this research adds to the growing body of evidence that dietary choices play a crucial role in preventing heart diseases.
It also points to the need for further studies to explore how different types of grain-based diets can impact heart health across various populations.
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