HOUSTON, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Eating more fiber is not only good for the heart and colon but also appears to help with chronic heartburn, say researchers in Houston.
Scientists at Houston's Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center and Baylor College of Medicine say their study, done for the Department of Veterans Affairs, is the first suggesting wider benefits for the consumption of more fiber.
The findings appear in the January issue of the journal Gut.
"To our knowledge, this is the first study of its kind to suggest a protective effect for dietary fiber on gastroesophageal reflux disease," said lead author Hashem B. El-Serag.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, refers to chronic heartburn and regurgitation of food. The disorder affects as many as one in five Americans.
Those who ate the most fiber and less fat on a regular basis were about 20 percent less likely to have GERD, regardless of body weight, the study said. No other nutrient or food group appeared to lower the risk for the disorder.
