While most people know that eating a fiber rich diet leads to a healthy gastrointestinal system, recent studies are showing that fiber may also be good for the cardiovascular system as well.

Heart disease is one of the top causes of death in many parts of the world. While the occurrence of heart disease has decreased slightly in recent years, it is still a major cause of death in many countries. In Europe, for instance, heart disease still accounts for 48 percent of all deaths. This is a worrisome figure and medical practitioners as well as health buffs are constantly looking for ways to reduce the risks.

According to a recent study, dietary fiber can give a number of benefits in terms of reducing the risks of heart disease. Researchers conducted a study reviewing the effects of increased dietary fiber intake on the occurrence of both coronary heart disease (CHD) and cardiovascular heart disease (CVD).

The study, which was published in BMJ, showed that for every 7 grams of fiber added to a daily diet, test subjects benefited from a 9 percent reduction in the occurrence of both coronary heart disease as well as cardiovascular heart disease. While the results show promise, it should be noted that the test focused on the fiber contained in th diet and did not apply to fiber supplements. Seven grams of fiber translates roughly to around 3 to 4 servings of vegetables and fruits.

"Clinicians should enthusiastically and skillfully recommend that patients consume more dietary fiber," says University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Professor of Medicine and Associate Dean Robert Baron. While people are slowly becoming more aware about the benefits of fiber to a healthy lifestyle, estimates indicate that most people in Europe and North America only consume half of the recommended daily allowance of dietary fiber.

Aside from some fruits and vegetables, other good sources of fiber include cereals and whole grains. While scientists and doctors agree that encouraging people to increase their daily intake of dietary fiber may be difficult, the benefits far outweigh the challenges and people would do well to adjust their eating habits.