THE ESSENTIAL
- Coronary heart disease is a group of diseases that start when the blood supply to the heart muscle (called myocardium) is interrupted or blocked.
- The most common cause is obstruction of the coronary arteries by an accumulation of fat, the “bad” cholesterol.
- It is often asymptomatic at first but can later lead to chest pain and/or heart attack. Risk factors include smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
A new study confirms the harmful effects of refined grain consumption on cardiovascular health. These cereals – unlike whole grains – have a natural composition that is modified following being ground or sieved in particular, in order to improve their shelf life for example, which causes them to lose important nutrients during the process. We already knew that a high daily consumption of refined grains was associated with a 33% increased risk of heart disease. Iranian researchers have now discovered that it is also associated with a greater risk of developing premature coronary heart disease, a coronary heart disease that begins before age 55 in men or before age 65 in women.
Are refined grains as unhealthy as sugar?
“A diet that includes consuming a lot of unhealthy, refined grains can be considered similar to consuming a diet that contains a lot of unhealthy sugars and oils”said Mohammad Amin Khajavi Gaskarei, a researcher at the Cardiovascular Research Center in Isfahan, Iran, and lead author of the upcoming study, in a communiqué.
The latter will be presented at the congress of the American College of Cardiology, “ACC Middle East 2022“, which will be held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from October 7 to 9, 2022. It was conducted on 1,369 Iranians with premature coronary artery disease, as well as 1,168 patients with normal coronary arteries who constituted the control group. The participants received a questionnaire regarding their dietary habits to assess the link between the consumption of whole grains or refined grains and the risk of premature coronary heart disease in people without a history of heart disease.
Heart health: the benefits of whole grains
Result: a higher consumption of refined grains was associated with a greater risk, while the consumption of whole grains was on the contrary linked to a reduced risk of developing premature coronary disease.
Here once more, benefits of whole grains on heart health had already been highlighted by previous studies. It should be noted that their regular consumption is also linked to a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes and of premature mortalityas well as increased chances of losing weight.
“As more and more studies demonstrate an increase in the consumption of refined grains around the world, as well as their impact on overall health, it is important that we find ways to encourage and educate people regarding the benefits of eating whole grains”emphasizes Khajavi Gaskarei.