In guacamole, in a salad or on toast with smoked salmon... Avocado is a food loved both at brunch and as an aperitif. And that's good, since its consumption would allow us to have an overall healthier diet. This is according to a study from the University of Pennsylvania (United States) published in February 2024 in the journal
Current Developments in Nutrition
.
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The researchers wanted to know if eating an avocado per day made a person's diet healthier overall, and if it reduced the risk of cardiometabolic diseases (diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, etc.). They thus measured the Healthy Eating Index, also called HEI-2015, of 1008 American adults (72% of whom were women) suffering from abdominal obesity. This index measures the quality of an individual's diet in relation to the American dietary guidelines (Dietary Guidelines for Americans). The participants were divided into two groups. The first was asked to consume one avocado (around 168 grams) per day. Participants in the second group were asked to make no changes to their diet and limit their avocado consumption to two per month. After 26 weeks, the scientists compared their HEI scores as well as their risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases.
More vegetables, less salt and sugar
Conclusion ? “Eating one avocado per day for 26 weeks promotes nutrition closer to American dietary guidelines,” reports Kristina Petersen, co-author of this study. A greater increase in the HEI-2015 score was observed in the group that consumed avocado.” And this, without any difference depending on Body Mass Index or age group. Participants in the first group actually consumed more fruits and vegetables, and less sodium (salt), refined grains, red meat, saturated fatty acids and added sugars than adults in the group who did not change diet.
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No impact on cardiometabolic risk
As a quality diet is strongly associated with better health, the study also aimed to establish a link between the daily consumption of an avocado and the reduction in risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases. “Changes in HEI scores over the 26-week period did not predict such a reduction in risk,” the conclusion states. “Further research is needed to determine the extent to which diet quality can be improved to reduce these risk factors,” the scientists say.
Finally, the researchers previously sought to test whether consuming one avocado per day for 26 weeks would “reduce visceral adiposity in a group of people with abdominal obesity.” And the results were negative.