Aisling continued: “When eaten as part of a heart-healthy diet, whole grain can help to reduce cholesterol (total and low-density lipoprotein) and reduce blood pressure.
“Eating a diet similar to the one consumed in the Mediterranean has biologically been shown to lower levels of LDL cholesterol.
“Yet scientists are still not completely sure what elements to the diet contribute to its effects.
“Grains such as whole-wheat bread, brown rice, cereals, and oats are all good examples and also key ingredients of the Mediterranean diet.”
A growing body of research supports intake of whole grains and other high-quality courses of carbohydrates to improve heart health.