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4 HEALTH AND LABORATORY MAGAZINE

AVOCADOS ARE LINKED TO

LOWER RISK OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE

Eating two servings of avocados
a week linked to lower risk of
cardiovascular disease

A 30-year study of more today in the Journal of the “Our study provides further disease and stroke at of avocado each week
than 110,000 health profes- American Heart Asso- evidence that the intake of the start of the study and had a 16% lower risk
sionals found that partic- ciation, an open access, plant-sourced unsaturat- living in the United States. of cardiovascular dis-
ipants who ate at least peer-reviewed journal of ed fats can improve diet Researchers document- ease and a 21% lower
two servings of avocado the American Heart Asso- quality and is an important ed 9,185 coronary heart risk of coronary heart
a week had a lower risk ciation. component in cardiovas- disease events and 5,290 disease, compared
of cardiovascular disease cular disease prevention,” strokes during more than to those who never or
compared to those who Avocados contain dietary said Lorena S. Pacheco, 30 years of follow-up. rarely ate avocados.
rarely ate avocados. fiber, unsaturated fats es- Ph.D., Harvard T.H. Chan Researchers assessed par-
pecially monounsaturated School of Public Health in ticipants’ diet using food ¸ Based on statistical
Replacing animal products fat (healthy fats) and other Boston. “These are par- frequency questionnaires modeling, replacing
like butter, cheese, or ba- favorable components ticularly notable findings given at the beginning of half a serving daily of
con with avocado was also that have been associated since the consumption of the study and then every margarine, butter, egg,
associated with a lower risk with good cardiovascular avocados has risen steeply four years. They calculat- yogurt, cheese or pro-
of cardiovascular disease health. Clinical trials have in the U.S. in the last 20 ed avocado intake from cessed meats such as
events. years, according to data a questionnaire item that
previously found avocados from the U.S. Department asked about the amount bacon with the same
have a positive impact on amount of avocado
Eating two or more of Agriculture.” consumed and frequency.
servings of avocado cardiovascular risk factors One serving equaled half of was associated with
weekly was associated including high cholesterol. For 30 years, researchers an avocado or a half cup of a 16% to 22% lower
with a lower risk of car- followed more than 68,780 avocado. risk of cardiovascular
diovascular disease, and Researchers believe this women (ages 30 to 55 disease events.
substituting avocado for is the first, large, pro- years) from the Nurses’ THE ANALYSIS FOUND:
certain fat-containing spective study to support Health Study and more ¸ Substituting half
foods like butter, cheese, the positive association than 41,700 men (ages ¸ After considering a a serving a day of
or processed meats was between higher avocado 40 to 75 years) from the wide range of cardi- avocado for the equiv-
associated with a low- consumption and lower Health Professionals ovascular risk factors alent amount of olive
er risk of cardiovascular cardiovascular events, such Follow-up Study. All study and overall diet, study oil, nuts and other
disease events, according as coronary heart disease participants were free of participants who ate plant oils showed no
to new research published and stroke. cancer, coronary heart at least two servings additional benefit.