A diet that includes three daily servings of whole grains appears to help people live longer, including by reducing the rates of death from heart disease and cancer, according to findings released Monday.

For each 16-gram serving of whole grains, public health researchers at Harvard University noted a seven percent decrease in overall risk of death, including a nine percent decline in risk of heart disease death and five percent decline in risk of cancer-related death.

Upping whole grain intake to three servings per day, or 48 grams, brought about a 20 percent drop in overall risk of death, including a 25 percent decline in risk of heart disease death and 14 percent decline in risk of cancer-related death.

For their research, scientists analyzed results of more than 12 previous studies conducted between 1970 and 2010 in the United States, Britain and Scandinavian countries, involving 786,076 male and female participants.

Read more: Whole grain consumption could lead to longer life: study

The five East African Community (EAC) states have finally agreed on the recommended moisture content for cereals and grains in the region.

Technical experts from East African Standards Council from Burundi, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda made the resolutions during a two day regional workshop on EAC staple food standards harmonization held at the Lake Victoria Serena Hotel, in Entebbe last Wednesday.

The final approval followed Kenya’s petition to the EAC in Arusha regarding the deficiencies in the staple foods standards approved by the East African Standards Council in Arusha in June last year.

Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) chief Dr. Ben Mayindo noted that the delayed harmonization of the cereals standards was hurting traders.

Read more: EAC states agree on grains and cereals standards

MAIZE grains prices have dropped to between sh600 and sh650 per kilogramme in Kampala. Hajji Badru Kaweesa, the Kisenyi Millers Association chairman, attributed drop to the start of the new harvest season in maize growing areas.