Heart-attack survivors were more likely to be alive nine years later if they followed a high-fibre diet, a study in the British Medical Journal found. Every 10g-per-day increase in fibre intake was linked with a 15% drop in death risk during the study. Dietary fibre may improve blood pressure and cholesterol, experts say.
On average, most people in the UK get about 14g of fibre a day, against a target of at least 18g. US experts recommend up to 38g a day. Fruit, such as bananas and apples, root vegetables, such as carrots and potatoes, wholemeal bread, cereals and bran are all good sources of dietary fibre.
A jacket potato and baked beans contain about 10g of fibre; two slices of wholemeal bread about 4g.