Role of dietary fibre-A functional food for cardiovascular health

Cardiovascular disease is the most common death in women due to sedentary life style and unhealthy dietary habits. Food choices with high fibre, micronutrients from fruits especially the seasonal fruits of the region will prove beneficial among the population from the burden of lifestyle disorders. Simple lifestyle modifications with physical activity will pave way for better promotion in cardiovascular health of the women and thereby quality of life. The methodology comprised a total of 165 study participants with households and working women. The details regarding baseline data of the study participants, anthropometric, lipid profile, dietary pattern, Lifestyle practices and type of stress were assessed for risk of cardiovascular disease using Health Risk Assessment Index. Education on diet and lifestyle modification were imparted to all high risk women with interactive aids such as chart, power point, pamphlet and demonstration of healthy food choices for healthy heart were used for health education. A total of 17 Women with risk for cardiovascular disease were included for imparting health education. Health profile of the women was assessed using mean nutrient intake from 24 hour food recall for 3 consecutive days; quantitative food frequency method and lipid profile examination at pre and post education in order to ascertain the role of fibre as a functional food. The normal value of various lipid levels were statistically analysed for comparison between the difference among women at pre and post education of all the seventeen women with lipid fractions were decreased although there was not a significant decrease in the statistical analysis with ‘t ’tests. Statistical analysis was used to assess the significant difference between mean nutrient in take of the selected study women with risk for cardiovascular disease.