Eating a wholegrain-rich diet can slash a person’s risk of premature death, a new Harvard University study has found. Researchers analysed data from 12 studies involving nearly 800,000 people – and found that people who ate the highest volume of wholegrain foods (three portions per day, or 48g in total) had a 20% lower risk of dying from any cause during the study period, and a 14% lower risk of dying of cancer, than those who ate few or no wholegrain foods. But even eating just 16g (equivalent to a bowl of porridge) a day made a significant difference. Other wholegrain foods include brown rice and Weetabix. Experts welcomed the findings as more evidence of the importance of fibre-rich diets, but warned of the difficulty of teasing apart lifestyle factors in such studies: it’s likely people who eat a diet rich in brown rice and porridge are more health-conscious than other people.  (Reported in The Week)

I’m suspiciousof these studies, for the reason given – other lifestyle factors have to be taken into account.  It doesn’t allow for how much exercise you get, chocolate you eat, or hours you sit in front of the TV, immobile.  Epicurus believed in strolling with friends in his garden, talking about life and the cosmos.  He is supposed to have lived to a fine old age.  Was his longevity owing to the Mediterranean diet, the exercise, the result of using his brain on a daily basis?  Or simply genes?  We will never know, Olives and lots of fish probably helped.  On the other hand he didn’t know about Weetabix.

Anyway, back to my porridge.