The protective effect came mainly from cereal fiber in grains, not other sources of fiber such as fruits and vegetables.

In large studies of men and women, higher intakes of cereal fiber (from the whole grains) have been linked to a reduced risk of diabetes.

While cereal fiber might reduce the risk of heart disease, fruits and vegetables appear to reduce the risk of cancer and high blood pressure.

Although all high-fiber foods are helpful in keeping digestion regular, cereal fibers from oats, wheat, and other grains appear to be especially effective at preventing diarrhea.

Inverse association between intake of cereal fiber and risk of gastric cardia cancer.

Eat a diet rich in cereal fiber or bran and yellow and green vegetables...

When the researchers compared groups with the lowest fiber intake with those who ate more, they found each 10-gram a day increase in total fiber and cereal fiber was linked with a 10% reduction in colorectal cancer risk.

Research suggests that cereal fibers have an edge in aiding digestion, as well as proving beneficial in protecting against coronary artery disease, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.

Triticeae gluten-free oats (free of wheat, rye or barley) may be a useful source of cereal fiber.

Each increase of five grams a day of cereal fiber (the amount in a half-cup of bran-flake cereal) was associated with a 37 percent decrease in coronary risk among these women.