Men who start the day with cereal are 19 percent less likely to have high blood pressure than people who don’t have cereal for breakfast, according to a study presented this week at an American Heart Association meeting in Atlanta. Those who have two to six servings a week are 11 percent less likely to have elevated levels. In either case, people who opt for high-fiber varieties fare even better.
The study hasn’t yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal, but it is part of the respected Physicians’ Health Study and included approximately 17 years of follow up with some 13,400 participants.
Our tests of high-fiber cereals, show they don’t have to taste like cardboard. Costco’s Kirkland Signature and Kashi GoLean both did well in our taste tests. Look for products with at least 3 grams of fiber and no more than 4 grams of sugar per serving.
This study also underscores the importance of breakfast, which has been linked to other health benefits as well, including a healthy weight, controlled cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and improved sensitivity to insulin.
See our tips for other ways to control your blood pressure and the heart tests you need and those you don’t.
Study links cereal consumption to lower blood pressure. [American Heart Association]
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