Studies note that avocado consumption is linked to a reduced risk of heart disease.
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — A new study published in Journal of American Heart Association explained that consuming avocado associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and coronary heart disease, in both men and women. Avocados are a fruit rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber and healthy monounsaturated fats.
According to the CDC, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the US for both men and women, including heart attack, stroke, and coronary heart disease. Patients with this condition feel the arteries of the heart become narrow or blocked and can no longer carry enough blood to the heart.
While some CVD risk factors are genetic, certain lifestyle factors such as how much you exercise and what you eat play an important role. Making heart-healthy choices, such as swapping butter, cheese, and mayonnaise for avocados every few days, can greatly reduce your risk of heart disease.
For the study, researchers at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health examined the effect of avocado consumption on cardiovascular disease risk between two prospective cohort studies: 68,786 women from the Nurses’ Health Study and 41,701 men from the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. They found that respondents who ate two or more servings of avocado per week had a 16 percent lower risk of cardiovascular disease and a 21 percent lower risk of coronary heart disease than those who didn’t eat (or rarely ate) avocados.
“Our study provides further evidence that intake of plant-sourced unsaturated fats can improve dietary quality and is an important component of CVD prevention in the general population,” the study authors wrote. Real SimpleMonday (4/4/2022).
Avocados are incredibly soft, filling, delicious, and nutrient-dense. To reap the heart health benefits of this superfood source of fat, try mashing a few avocados on whole grain bread instead of butter a few times a week. You can also mix into smoothie as a substitute for yogurt.
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