A slice of avocado may cut temptations between meals, a study suggests.
The research, funded by the Hass Avocado Board and published in the latest issue of the peer-revied Nutrition Journal, shows that the nutrient-dense fruit source can increase satiety or “feeling of fullness”.
Researchers found that participants who included just half of a fresh avocado in their lunch reported a 40 percent reduced desire to eat in the following three hours and 28 percent reported a decrease in desire to eat over the next five hours.
The study, led by Dr. Joan Sabaté, chairwoman of the Department of Nutrition at Loma Linda University in California, also suggests that avocados may help regulate blood-sugar levels. There is an increase in calories consumed for those who had some avocado with their lunch, compared to those who had lunch without the fruit. Blood sugar was not affected for the avocado eaters.
“This leads us to believe that the avocados’ potential role in blood sugar management is worth further investigation,” Sabaté told Medical News Today. The research may also have unlocked a key for those with Type 2 Diabetes, and the potential benefits of avocados. Researchers need to study more to understand avocados’ effect on glucose and insulin response.
S.C. Rhyne is a blogger and novelist in New York City. Follow the author on twitter @ReporterandGirl or on Facebook.com/TheReporterandTheGirl and visit her website at www.SCRhyne.com
