Fiber intake and cardiovascular disease:
Fiber intake may reduce the risk of both ischemic stroke and ischemic heart disease. A meta-analysis of cohort studies found that an increase in total fiber intake of 7 grams per day was associated with a 7% lower risk of stroke (24). An increase in dietary fiber intake is recommended as part of the diets discussed above due to their ability to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Fruits and vegetables contain a large amount of fiber. Eight published cohort studies found that fruit and vegetable intake resulted in an overall reduction in the risk of developing ischemic heart disease by approximately 20% (25)