A popular fruit often enjoyed in salads and sandwiches may help redistribute abdominal fat, according to new research.
Recent findings from the University of Illinois suggest that eating one avocado daily could promote a healthier distribution of belly fat in women.
The study involved 105 overweight or obese adults who incorporated one avocado into their main meal each day for 12 weeks. Women in the study experienced a reduction in visceral fat, the harmful fat surrounding abdominal organs.
The research, led by Professor Naiman Khan from Kinesiology and Community Health at the University of Illinois, was published in the Journal of Nutrition.
The primary aim of the study was not weight loss, but to investigate how avocado consumption influences fat storage and distribution. Abdominal fat consists of two types: subcutaneous fat, beneath the skin and seen as less harmful, and visceral fat, which envelops vital organs and is linked to a higher risk of diabetes and heart disease.
Participants were split into two groups, with only one group enjoying a fresh avocado daily.
At the beginning and end of the 12-week study, researchers assessed abdominal fat and glucose tolerance, a crucial indicator of diabetes.
Women consuming avocados showed a decrease in visceral fat and a lower ratio of visceral to subcutaneous fat. However, no similar benefits were seen in men, and both groups did not exhibit changes in glucose tolerance.
Researchers plan to conduct additional studies to further explore how avocado intake impacts fat distribution and why these effects vary between genders.
Ask me anything
Explore related questions
