Avocados Linked to Lower Heart Disease Risk
Pacheco, Ph.D., one of the researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health. T. H. Chana. who did the research.
A study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association “Also highlights how bad saturated fats like butter, cheese, and processed meats are for the heart,” says Pacheco. Avocados are loaded with nutrients. They are rich in fats but are considered healthy – monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats.
Avocados also contain fiber, potassium, magnesium, and other nutrients.
To see what effect avocados can have on heart health, Pacheco and her team turned to two extensive, lengthy studies:
All people who participated in the study did not have cancer.Heart disease, and stroke at the start of the studies.
They answered questions about their diet at the start of the study and every four years. The questionnaire asked how often they ate avocados and how much. One serving was half an avocado or half a cup. In the early days of one study, very few participants said they ate avocados, but this began to change over the years as avocados became more popular.
During 30 years of follow-up, they registered 9,185 heart attacks and 5,290 strokes.
After adjusting for lifestyle and other dietary factors, those who ate at least two avocados per week had a 16% lower risk of heart disease and a 21% lower risk of coronary heart disease.
Because it’s a study, it “cannot prove a causal relationship,” Pacheco says, but the researchers found that eating avocados reduced the risk of heart disease.
The findings are significant “because a healthy diet is the cornerstone of cardiovascular health. However, many Americans may find it difficult to achieve and stick to a healthy diet,” says Cheryl Anderson, Ph.D., professor and dean of public health at the University of California, San Diego, said in a statement.
“We desperately need strategies to improve consumption [American Heart Association] “Recommended healthy diets, such as the Mediterranean diet rich in vegetables and fruits,” said Anderson, who was not involved in the study.
