Adding avocado can help in lowering bad cholesterol
Contrary to popular belief, not apples but eating avocados a day may
keep bad cholesterol at bay, suggest researchers. According to
researchers, bad cholesterol can refer to both oxidised low-density
lipoprotein (LDL) and small, dense LDL particles.
In a randomised, controlled feeding study, the researchers found that eating one avocado a day was associated with lower levels of LDL (specifically small, dense LDL particles) and oxidised LDL in adults with overweight or obesity.
In a randomised, controlled feeding study, the researchers found that eating one avocado a day was associated with lower levels of LDL (specifically small, dense LDL particles) and oxidised LDL in adults with overweight or obesity.
"We were able to show that when people incorporated one avocado a day
into their diet, they had fewer small, dense LDL particles than before
the diet," said a distinguished professor of
nutrition, who added that small, dense LDL particles are particularly
harmful to promoting plaque buildup in the arteries.
"Consequently, people should consider adding avocados to their diet in a healthy way like on whole-wheat toast or as a veggie dip," added . Specifically, the study found that avocados helped reduce LDL particles that had been oxidised. Similar to the way oxygen can damage food -- like a cut apple turning brown -- the researchers said oxidation is also bad for the human body.
"A lot of research points to oxidation being the basis for conditions like cancer and heart disease," the Prof. said. "We know that when LDL particles become oxidized, that starts a chain reaction that can promote atherosclerosis, which is the build-up of plaque in the artery wall. Oxidation is not good, so if you can help protect the body through the foods that you eat, that could be very beneficial," continued the Prof.
While previous research demonstrated that avocados could help lower LDL cholesterol, researchers were curious about whether avocados could also help lower oxidised LDL particles.
The researchers recruited 45 adult participants with overweight or obesity for the study. All participants followed a two-week "run-in" diet at the beginning of the study. This diet mimicked an average American diet and allowed all participants to begin the study on similar nutritional "footing".
Next, each participant completed five weeks of three different treatment diets in a randomised order.
Diets included a low-fat diet, a moderate-fat diet, and a moderate-fat diet that included one avocado a day. The moderate-fat diet without avocados was supplemented with extra healthy fats to match the amount of monounsaturated fatty acids that would be obtained from the avocados.
After five weeks on the avocado diet, participants had significantly lower levels of oxidised LDL cholesterol than before the study began or after completing the low- and moderate-fat diets.
Participants also had higher levels of lutein, an antioxidant, after the avocado diet. The Prof. said there was specifically a reduction in small, dense LDL cholesterol particles that had become oxidised.
"When you think about bad cholesterol, it comes packaged in LDL particles, which vary in size," the Prof. said.
"All LDL is bad, but small, dense LDL is particularly bad. A key finding was that people on the avocado diet had fewer oxidised LDL particles. They also had more lutein, which may be bioactive that's protecting the LDL from being oxidised," added the Prof.
The researchers added that because the moderate-fat diet without avocados included the same monounsaturated fatty acids found in avocados, it is likely that the fruit has additional bioactive that contributed to the benefits of the avocado diet.
The Prof. said that while the results of the study -- are promising, there is still more research to be done. "Nutrition research on avocados is a relatively new area of study, so I think we're at the tip of the iceberg for learning about their health benefits," she said.
"Avocados are really high in healthy fats, carotenoids -- which are important for eye health -- and other nutrients. They are such a nutrient-dense package, and I think we're just beginning to learn about how they can improve health," said the Prof.
"Consequently, people should consider adding avocados to their diet in a healthy way like on whole-wheat toast or as a veggie dip," added . Specifically, the study found that avocados helped reduce LDL particles that had been oxidised. Similar to the way oxygen can damage food -- like a cut apple turning brown -- the researchers said oxidation is also bad for the human body.
"A lot of research points to oxidation being the basis for conditions like cancer and heart disease," the Prof. said. "We know that when LDL particles become oxidized, that starts a chain reaction that can promote atherosclerosis, which is the build-up of plaque in the artery wall. Oxidation is not good, so if you can help protect the body through the foods that you eat, that could be very beneficial," continued the Prof.
While previous research demonstrated that avocados could help lower LDL cholesterol, researchers were curious about whether avocados could also help lower oxidised LDL particles.
The researchers recruited 45 adult participants with overweight or obesity for the study. All participants followed a two-week "run-in" diet at the beginning of the study. This diet mimicked an average American diet and allowed all participants to begin the study on similar nutritional "footing".
Next, each participant completed five weeks of three different treatment diets in a randomised order.
Diets included a low-fat diet, a moderate-fat diet, and a moderate-fat diet that included one avocado a day. The moderate-fat diet without avocados was supplemented with extra healthy fats to match the amount of monounsaturated fatty acids that would be obtained from the avocados.
After five weeks on the avocado diet, participants had significantly lower levels of oxidised LDL cholesterol than before the study began or after completing the low- and moderate-fat diets.
Participants also had higher levels of lutein, an antioxidant, after the avocado diet. The Prof. said there was specifically a reduction in small, dense LDL cholesterol particles that had become oxidised.
"When you think about bad cholesterol, it comes packaged in LDL particles, which vary in size," the Prof. said.
"All LDL is bad, but small, dense LDL is particularly bad. A key finding was that people on the avocado diet had fewer oxidised LDL particles. They also had more lutein, which may be bioactive that's protecting the LDL from being oxidised," added the Prof.
The researchers added that because the moderate-fat diet without avocados included the same monounsaturated fatty acids found in avocados, it is likely that the fruit has additional bioactive that contributed to the benefits of the avocado diet.
The Prof. said that while the results of the study -- are promising, there is still more research to be done. "Nutrition research on avocados is a relatively new area of study, so I think we're at the tip of the iceberg for learning about their health benefits," she said.
"Avocados are really high in healthy fats, carotenoids -- which are important for eye health -- and other nutrients. They are such a nutrient-dense package, and I think we're just beginning to learn about how they can improve health," said the Prof.
| this is only for your
information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines,
exercises and so on.
https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement |
Labels: avocado, build-up, carotenoids, eye health, harmful, healthy fats, LDL, lowers cholesterol, nutrient dense, oxidation, plaques
posted by G S Iyer at 3:57 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home