A team of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center researchers has found that increased doses of soluble fiber help reduce the dangerous belly fat that surrounds the organs and leads to high blood pressure, diabetes, and fatty liver disease.
Dr. Kristen Hairston, the team leader, researched data from 1,114 participants during a five-year period. Each participant underwent an initial physical exam and had his or her belly fat measured toward the end of the study.
Hairston said a clinical trial is planned for later this year to examine whether different sources of soluble fiber are more effective than others in reducing belly fat. Good sources of soluble fiber include oat bran, flaxseed, beans, and apples.
The research was published in the journal Obesity.
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