Your local librarian might be able to help you find out more info regarding this subject. Ask her where the scientific journals are located, or even better, use the library’s catalog to search for journals containing these terms: “heart attack and high fiber diet”

Here’s what we were able to dig up on this subject: You can lower heart attack risk with high fiber intake. However, it’s best to consult your doctor because not everyone can eat high-fiber diets — especially if you have a certain health condition.

It is well-established that high fiber diets cut the risk of colon cancer. Now, new research from France suggests that it also reduces the risk of heart disease. Men and women with the highest fiber intake had lower risks of obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Consuming fiber from a variety of sources is important. Whole grain fiber, for example, was linked to reduced body fat (lower Body Mass Index), blood pressure and blood homocysteine levels – a chemical linked to blood vessel inflammation. High fruit fiber diets were linked to lower blood pressure and abdominal fat. High vegetable fiber diets were related to lower blood pressure and homocysteine levels.

Leading health organizations recommend that people consume at least 25 grams of fiber per day. The results of this study suggest that even higher fiber intakes are beneficial. Each five-gram increment of fiber intake provided additional health benefits. In the United States, the average adult consumption is inadequate, typically only 15 grams of fiber per day. Nutrition experts recommend increasing the fiber content of your diet gradually to prevent digestive symptoms such as bloating and cramping.

SOURCE: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 83:124-131,2006