This post was originally published as Avocados Help Your Body Absorb Nutrients by Laurel on Health Food blog.
A study from Iowa State University and Ohio State University found that eating avocado with a meal helps your body absorb more nutrients from your food. Here are the details of the study:
First part: Six males and five females were given 300 grams (g) of tomato salsa to eat. Half of the group ate salsa with 150g of avocado in it, and the other half ate salsa without avocado. Then later, the test was repeated and the subjects were given the opposite salsas.
Second part: The same group ate a salad containing carrots, spinach, and lettuce. Half of the group ate the salad with 150g of avocado, and the other half ate the salad without avocado. Then later, the test was repeated and the subjects were given the opposite salads.
To get the following results, the researchers took blood samples “from each subject several times after each meal to determine changes in nutrient levels for up to nine and a half hours after the meals” (Natural News):
- Salsa — Those who ate the avocado salsa absorbed almost 4.5 times more lycopene than subjects who had no avocado.
- Salad — Those who ate the avocado salad absorbed 13.6 times more beta-carotene, 8.3 times more alpha-carotene, and 4 times more lutein than subjects who had no avocado.
OSU researcher Dr. Steven Schwartz said, “Many fruits and vegetables are rich in beneficial carotenoids, but most fruits and vegetables are virtually fat free, which may limit the body’s ability to absorb some of these nutrients. Our latest research shows that the natural fat content in avocados increases carotenoid absorption, which offers nutritional advantages over other sources of fat like salad dressings.”
Check out these other posts on the nutritional benefits of avocados:
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