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Can Avocados Help Curb Hunger? Yes Loma Linda Study Shows

A study conducted by the Loma Linda University Medical Center Shows that those about half of a Hass avocado during lunch can feel more full for longer.

Loma Linda University Medical Center has some promising news for people trying to lose weight.

The university recently published the results of a study that determined that, “overweight adults who eat about half of a Hass avocado during lunch can feel more full for a longer period of time.”

Hospital spokesman Herbert Atienza wrote about the results in a recent announcement which we have published unedited below:

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The study, published in the Nutrition Journal, could be meaningful for people who are trying to better manage their caloric intake, since the addition of half an avocado during specific meals may be a simple dietary intervention for those who consume large amounts of snacks in between meals.

A caveat of the findings is that the avocado contained an additional 112 kcal, which may have accounted for the observed increase in satisfaction and decreased desire to eat.

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“Avocados are a very popular and delicious fruit, and from the results of our study, may also be helpful for people who are looking to better manage their weight,” said Dr. Joan Sabate, professor of nutrition at Loma Linda University School of Public Health and principal investigator of the study.

The study examined 26 healthy overweight and moderately obese adults, with ages from 25 to 65 years and Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 25 but less than 35. Participants ate lunches with or without avocados, depending on where they were at within the study’s timeframe. The Hass Avocado Board funded the study.

The results showed that adding avocado to a lunch meal caused a 23 percent increase in satisfaction and a 28 percent decreased desire to eat over a subsequent five-hour period as compared with the avocado-free control lunch meal. Over a three-hour period, adding avocado to a lunch meal yielded a 26 percent increase in satisfaction and 40 percent decreased desire to eat. The changes in measurements of appetite sensation tended to taper off after five hours.

Aside from satiety, the study also sought to examine glucose and insulin response, and caloric intake among the subjects. The study recommended further studies on the impact on avocados on glucose and insulin response.

The study may be read in its entirety by visiting this site.


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