Research Find Avocados Support Gut Health

Eating avocado as part of your daily diet can help improve gut health, according to a new study from the University of Illinois. Avocados are a healthy food that is high in dietary fiber and monounsaturated fat. However, it was not clear how avocados impact the microbes in the gastrointestinal system. The researchers found people who ate avocado every day as part of a meal had a greater abundance of gut microbes that break down fiber and produce metabolites that support gut health. They also had greater microbial diversity compared to people who did not receive the avocado meals in the study. The study included 163 overweight or obese adults between 25 and 45 years old. They received one avocado meal per day to consume as a replacement for either breakfast, lunch, or dinner. One researcher adds avocados are “a really nicely packaged fruit that contains nutrients that are important for health. Our work shows we can add benefits to gut health to that list.