Reduce your risk of diabetes by consuming avocados, new study claims

A new study conducted by University of Guelph researchers suggests eating avocados could help reduce your risk of diabetes. The team discovered avocados contain a compound that can help prevent the cellular processes that could result in diabetes. A test conducted on humans showed the substance is easily absorbed into the blood without causing any harmful side effects in the liver, muscle or kidney.

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that is becoming a major health issue across the globe. Diabetes patients suffer from insulin resistance, which makes it difficult for them to get rid of glucose from the blood. It can become serious when mitochondria in the body's cells cannot properly burn fatty acids. Fatty acid oxidation helps the body burn fats. This process can become challenging to complete for people who have developed diabetes or are obese.

However, the team discovered a fat molecule called avocatin B (AvoB), which is only found in avocados,may help to tackle this issue and reduce insulin resistance. For the study, mice were fed a high-fat diet to induce insulin resistance and obesity. Some mice in the study were also given AvoB along with the the high-fat diet for five weeks. The results showed mice that were given AvoB weighed much less and greater insulin sensitivity compared to those in the control group.

A human clinical trial showed AvoB was absorbed safely into their blood. Even though it aided weight loss, the team notes it was not a significant amount. "We advocate healthy eating and exercise as solutions to the problem, but that's difficult for some people. We've known this for decades, and obesity and diabetes are still a significant health problem," PhD student Nawaz Ahmed and lead author of the study told a news portal. The study's findings were originally published in the journal Molecular Nutrition and Food Research.

Previous research has found avocados could also help reduce 'bad' cholesterol levels, which could improve heart health. "We were able to show that when people incorporated one avocado a day into their diet, they had fewer small, dense LDL particles than before the diet," Penny Kris-Etherton, a professor of nutrition from Penn State, told a news portal. Adding, "Consequently, people should consider adding avocados to their diet in a healthy way, like on whole-wheat toast or as a veggie dip."

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