In an effort to support optimal cardiovascular and digestive health for teenagers, some health professionals may feel it is important to focus on decreasing one's intake of fat. However, new research suggests it may be more important to increase amounts of dietary fiber.

A dietitian from Michigan State University collected data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 1999-2002. They focused specifically on 2,100 subjects aged 12 to 19 years, looking at measurements associated with heart health such as blood pressure, waistline and other factors.

Results showed that subjects who ate more fiber were more likely to have healthier measurements of these assessments, which did not appear to be significantly tied to saturated fat or cholesterol, as published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

However, this does not mean that teenagers no longer have to be mindful of the amount of fat they eat, according to the author.

"One of the takeaways is that our study reinforced the current dietary recommendations for dietary fiber intake by including a variety of plant-based foods," said researcher Joseph Carlson. "A strategy of emphasizing fiber-rich foods may improve adherence to dietary recommendations."

Further studies should investigate the best ways to increase the amount of fiber young people eat, Carlson said.