Heart disease risk 'cut by an avocado a week' - how to add more to your diet

dailyrecord.co.uk:

The risk of heart disease was found to be reduced by eating avocados, according to new research. A new study says eating one or more avocados weekly reduced people's heart disease risk by a fifth.The fruit has unsaturated fats - especially monounsaturated fat, also known as a 'healthy fat' - plus fibre and other components linked to good heart health.Eating one weekly (the equivalent of two servings) appears to slash the risks of coronary heart disease by 21 percent compared to people who do not eat avocado.

Aside from being delicious, avocados also contain dietary fibre, healthy monounsaturated fats and other key vitamins and minerals, including magnesium and vitamins C, E, and K.

Researchers looked at the diets of more than 110,00 people in research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association (JAMA). "Our study provides further evidence that the intake of plant-sourced unsaturated fats can improve diet quality and is an important component in cardiovascular disease prevention," said Dr Lorena Pacheco, lead author from the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health in Boston.

Here are eight ways to eat more of the brunch favourite – without a slice of toast in sight.Smoothie bowls may be less trendy now than they were five years ago, but they still remain a popular breakfast option, particularly in the spring and summer.Adding avocado to your blender will help you thicken your bowl, particularly if you also use frozen bananas.Mix blueberries, spinach and raspberries for a sweet and tangy start to the day.Guacamole has its roots in Central America.In Mexico, avocados grow in abundance, and the Aztecs were said to eat it combined with spices.