Author: Victoria Aly
Time for reading: ~1
minutes
Last Updated:
August 08, 2022
In this article, learn more about Avocado Helps Against High Cholesterol. One avocado a day can lower bad cholesterol levels.
Avocados may be high in fat, but new research suggests that eating them does not have an unhealthy effect on cholesterol levels . On the contrary.
They concluded that avocados can help improve the lipid profile in both healthy individuals and those with mild hypercholesterolemia (elevated cholesterol levels).
In a similar study, healthy participants showed a 16% reduction in total cholesterol after a one-week diet high in monounsaturated avocado fat. In these individuals with elevated cholesterol levels, the avocado diet resulted in a 17% decrease in serum total cholesterol and a 22% decrease in both LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, along with an 11% increase in so-called "good" HDL cholesterol. .
The fruit, in general, has a very high content of nutrients . A cup of chopped avocado contains 234 calories, 24 percent of the daily recommended dose of vitamin C, 20 percent of vitamin B6 and 10 percent of magnesium.
Studies show that avocados a day, in addition to lowering bad cholesterol, can also benefit heart health. According to researchers, it improves vascular function and overall heart health . For example, an interesting study in 2012 found that eating a burger containing avocado significantly inhibits the production of the inflammatory compound interleukin-6 ( IL-6 ), unlike a hamburger without fresh avocado.
The fruit does not raise blood sugar levels or triglycerides .
Healthy fats are also vital for optimal brain function and for preventing degenerative brain disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease .
Last but not least, the avocado is one of the safest fruits that can be bought conventionally grown, as its thick skin protects its inner part from pesticides. It is rated as one of the safest commercial crops in terms of pesticide application, so there is no real need to spend extra money on organic avocados.