A new study from the University of Illinois shows that eating avocados as part of your daily diet can help improve gut health.
Avocados are a healthy food rich in dietary fiber and monounsaturated fats. However, it has not been clear how avocados affect microbes in the digestive system or “gut”.
The research team found that people who eat avocados daily as part of their breakfast have a greater abundance of gut microbes that break down fiber and produce metabolites that support gut health. And they also had greater microbial diversity compared to the people who did not receive the avocado meals in the study. Sharon Thompson, a graduate student in the department of nutrition sciences at Illioni University and lead author of the paper published in the Journal of Nutrition, says that avocados keep gut microbes happy because it helps break down. Fiber and reduce unhealthy acids.
The researchers tested the effects of consuming avocado daily on 163 overweight or obese adults between the ages of 25 and 45. Half of them were given avocados with their daily meal, while the other participants did not get avocados.
And at the end of the 12-week period, the avocado group had more microbes that we need to break down the fiber and create metabolites that promote gut health than the control group.
According to the study, consuming avocados daily made participants’ bodies absorb less fat than the food they ate. Avocados may be rich in calories and fat, but they still contribute to the recommended daily intake of fiber and boast of nutrients such as potassium, so it is worth considering adding it to the diet. Follow healthy.
“Just like we think of heart-healthy meals, we also need to think about healthy gut meals and how to feed bacteria. Avocados are full of nutrients, including fiber and healthy fats that help support gut health by nourishing them,” said study co-author Hannah Holcher. Your microbes. “
“It’s just well-packaged fruit that contains important nutrients for health. Our work demonstrates that we can add gut health benefits to that list,” she added.