Study: Avocados May Lower Risk of Heart Disease

Heart disease continues to rank as the leading cause of death in the United States. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it's responsible for over 600,000 deaths each year. While there's no definitive cure for it, there are ways to lower your risk of heart disease. Exercising on a regular basis, for instance, can lower you risk of heart disease. Cardiovascular exercise will strengthen your heart so that it can pump blood faster and more efficiently through your body.

Along with exercising, eating the right foods can lower your risk of heart disease. A new study, in fact, has linked avocado consumption to a lower risk of heart disease. 

The Heart Health Benefits of Avocados

According to a study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, people who consumed at least two servings of avocados per week were 16% less likely to develop heart disease than their counterparts who didn't consume any servings of avocados. The study also found that people who traded in animal products -- cheese, butter, etc. -- for avocados were up to 22% less likely to develop heart disease.

What makes avocados good for your heart exactly? The aforementioned study only found a correlation between avocado consumption and a lower risk of heart disease; it didn't investigate the reason behind avocados' heart-boosting properties. Nonetheless, avocados are a highly nutritious type of fruit.

Understanding the Nutritional Value of Avocados

Avocados are loaded in beneficial nutrients. They contain over 700 milligrams of potassium, for instance. That's about 20% of the recommended daily intake. Along with potassium, avocados contain protein, vitamin C, vitamin B, magnesium, calcium and even iron.

While many of these nutrients play an important role in a healthy heart, avocados also contain unsaturated fat. Unsaturated fat is particularly good for the heart because of its ability to regulate cholesterol levels and, thus, blood pressure. Not to be confused with saturated fat, unsaturated fat can lower levels of bad cholesterol and increase levels of good cholesterol. Avocado is an excellent source of unsaturated fat. Most of the fat in avocados is monounsaturated, which is a type of unsaturated fat that's good for the heart.

In Conclusion

Avocados aren't just delicious; they are good for your health. A recent study found that consuming at least two servings of avocados per week can lower your risk of heart disease by 16% to 22%.