Eating one avocado a day lowers 'bad' cholesterol and helps protect blood vessels from plaque, reports infohub.kz.
Researchers at Pennsylvania State University found that adding one avocado to the daily diet reduces the concentration of small dense low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles in adults with abdominal obesity. This type of cholesterol is particularly dangerous because it easily penetrates artery walls and promotes plaque formation.
The study involved 786 participants over the age of 25. Half ate as usual, while the other group consumed one avocado daily for six months. Among avocado lovers, the concentration of harmful LDL particles dropped by an average of 49 nanomoles per liter. According to the authors, this simple dietary habit could lower the risk of developing cardiovascular disease by about 4%. The positive effect was observed in all participants regardless of age, sex, or race. Body weight and waist circumference did not change.