A meta-analysis indicates that for people with high cholesterol, consuming avocado can lower total cholesterol and LDL-C.
Other interesting effects
A study observed that daily consumption of avocado for 8 weeks in healthy women improved skin elasticity and firmness.
Avocado contains antioxidants and plant compounds (phytonutrients) that may contribute to eye health (lutein, zeaxanthin) and be protective against certain diseases.
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3. Limitations, precautions and what is not proven
Despite these good results, we must remain cautious:
The fact that avocado eaters have better results doesn’t guarantee that it’s avocado alone that causes these effects: often, these people have better eating habits overall. For example, the study of the two American cohorts notes that “people who eat avocados may also have healthier diets in general.”
Some studies show no significant effect on certain parameters: for example, in one trial, eating one avocado a day did not change weight or abdominal fat after 26 weeks.
Regarding cancer risk, there is one study that found an association: among women in the Nurses’ Health Study cohort, consuming one or more servings of avocado per week was associated with an increased risk of ER-negative breast cancer (HR ~1.52). However, this result should be interpreted with caution and does not allow for a causal effect to be concluded.
Avocados are quite high in calories (due to their fat content), so they should be included in your overall energy balance if you are watching your weight.
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