If you dream of avocados on toast, or adding guacamole to all food types, this is the news you need to hear.
According to a new study in The Journal of the American Heart Association, the latest study has shown that eating an avocado every day could help lower your cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease.
The study saw 45 overweight people separated into three groups, with each group given either a low fat, moderate fat or a moderate fat and avocado meal schedule every day.
While there was little to no weight loss over the course of five weeks, all participants saw a reduced level of cholesterol.
Even though all groups reduced their cholesterol, the group who incorporated an avocado into their diet plan saw a much greater reduction of 13 points in cholesterol levels compared to their counterparts who averaged a reduction of just 5 points.
Speaking about the results, chair of the American Heart Association’s Nutrition Committee Penny Kris-Etherton said:
"All diets decreased LDL cholesterol, the main lipid risk factor for cardiovascular disease. But the diet with the avocado decreased LDL cholesterol the most.
“All the foods were exactly the same, except the avocado versus oils that were high in monounsaturated fat on the moderate-fat diet.
"So that was the only difference between the two diets, which then tells us that it's the avocado that has additional benefits which are beyond the unsaturated fat."
Avocados are packed with monounsaturated fatty acids which helps the body tackle unhealthy build-up of low density lipoproteins (LDLs), which are used in the body to counteract cholesterol and help keep our arteries healthy.
Despite being somewhat high in unsaturated fats, avocados are commonly included in weight loss diets as their high fibre content helps keep you feeling fuller for longer.
