A new study found that eating an avocado a day may improve overall diet quality.
Only two percent of Americans eat avocados regularly. They are a nutrient-dense, fiber-rich food. Previous studies have shown that people who eat avocados often have a higher diet quality than non-avocado eaters. Researchers wanted to see if adding avocados to people’s days would help them eat better.
The researchers used 1,008 people in their study. They were split into two groups. One group ate their regular diet for 26 weeks. The other group added an avocado to their meals every day for 26 weeks.
People in the avocado group “significantly increased their adherence to dietary guidelines.” The researchers didn’t tell people how to eat the avocado. Some used it to replace foods with more refined carbs and salt. Other people were using them to replace less healthy, higher-fat foods.
Following dietary guidelines can help lower the risk of chronic conditions and improve overall health. Prior to this study, there was a lot of speculation that people who lived healthy lifestyles were more likely to eat more avocados. This study shows that avocados can lead people to make healthier choices.
Of course, we must address the elephant in the room, avocados aren’t the cheapest vegetable you can buy. When we first saw the headlines for this study, we thought it might be that people who ate avocado daily were also more likely to go to spas. It wasn’t until we read that it was an experiment rather than observation that we believed it. Adding more avocado to your diet can help you make healthier food choices. However, eating an avocado a day can be expensive, depending on where you shop. Costco sells them in bulk for under a dollar each. If you live near an Aldi, they cost 75 cents. But buying them individually from most supermarkets costs you about $1.50.
The cost of avocados may prevent you from eating them every day. However, eating them more frequently may help you make better choices. You can also use avocado oil in your cooking in place of butter or a less healthy oil. It has a higher smoke point than olive oil so it can be better for cooking at high heat. It also has less flavor than olive oil. If you want a fat that won’t impart a flavor to your meal, avocado oil is ideal! And it might help you improve your diet.
