Everyone has heard the popular adage, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Now, thanks to a study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, you can replace “apple” with “avocado” in the oft-used saying.
Avocados are rich in healthy fats that have the ability to help lower “bad” LDL cholesterol levels, and are high in fiber and a combination of other vitamins, minerals, phytosterols, and dietary bioactives that strengthen your immune system and contribute to weight loss. Additionally, avocados can help reverse and improve cardiovascular disease and overall heart health.
The latest study was conducted by researchers at Pennsylvania State University and funded by the Hass Avocado Board. A total of 45 overweight individuals between the ages of 21 and 70 were recruited for the study and randomly assigned to one of three different types of diets aimed at lowering LDL cholesterol levels.
One diet was comprised solely of fruits, poultry, low-fat dairy, whole grains, and small portions of red meat minus the avocados. The other two diets were moderately high in healthy fat content, with approximately 34 percent of the total calories per day coming from healthy fat sources such as nuts and oils, as well as one avocado per day.
