Eating one avocado per day may improve diet, study suggests

UF Health Podcasts

The adage about an apple a day aside, it turns out that an avocado a day just may be enough to improve the nutritional quality of your diet.

According to a new study from Penn State University, the average American diet leaves much to be desired — and poor diet quality is one of the risk factors for several diseases, including heart disease.

When it comes to the agreed-upon key dietary recommendations put together by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, most of us fall short. Now, new research indicates that a single avocado could save the day — and how much nutrition we pack into it.

Typically, only 2% of the population consumes avocados regularly. Researchers wanted to see if regular consumption of the nutrient-dense, fiber-rich food could have a positive impact on diet quality.

The study included more than 1,000 participants who were placed in two groups: In the first group, folks continued their usual diet and limited their avocado intake during the 26-week study. In the second, each participant incorporated a daily avocado in their diet.

Researchers noted that not only did those who ate an avocado daily show an increased adherence to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans — they also found that participants were substituting avocadoes, packed with healthy fats, vitamins and minerals, in place of common food items high in sodium or other undesirable nutritional traits.

Of course, more research is needed, but while an avocado a day is no cure-all, it’s certainly a tasty place to start.