Eating just one avocado a week cut the risk of heart disease, according to a study.
The study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association showed regular avocado eaters were 21 percent less likely to suffer from coronary heart disease.
Harvard University researchers tracked more than One lakh healthy men and women aged 30 to 75 in the US for 30 years.
Participants were questioned about their diet every two to four years. Their answers were compared to medical records at the end of the trial.
The researchers adjusted for variables like obesity, alcohol consumption, smoking status, age, and other underlying health conditions.
Results showed that those who ate a whole avocado once a week were 16 percent less likely to suffer any form of heart disease compared to those who never or rarely ate the fruit.
And regular avocado eaters were 21 percent less likely to suffer from coronary heart disease.
Avocado is filled with healthy fats that lower bad cholesterol and prevent plaque from building up in the arteries.
Arteries clogging up is one of the main risk factors for strokes and heart attacks. Avocado also has omega 9 which can also improve blood pressure and inflammation.
Researchers are now recommending people to have avocado with their toast in the morning instead of butter, margarine, or cheese as replacing a daily serving of margarine, butter, egg, yogurt, cheese, or bacon was associated with a 16 to 22 percent lower risk of heart disease.
