New research shows that regular consumption of avocado appears to redistribute women's belly fat toward a healthier profile. Over 100 overweight people took part in a study that provided one meal per day for 12 weeks. Women who consumed avocado as part of their daily diet showed oneReducing deeper visceral belly fat.
An avocado can have a positive effect on belly fat
However, the goal of the research was not weight loss. The authors wanted to understand how eating an avocado affects belly fat. This should also show how people store their body fat. According to the researchers, the position of fat in the body plays an important role in health. There are two types of fat in the abdominal cavity. One type accumulates just under the skin and is known as subcutaneous fat. The other type of fat is located deeper in the abdomen, making this a visceral fat that surrounds the internal organs. People with higher levels of deeper fat tend to have a higher risk of developing diabetes. Therefore, the study authors wanted to determine whether the ratio of subcutaneous to visceral fat might change with avocado consumption.
The first group of participants received meals that included a fresh avocado. The other group consumed almost identical ingredients and similar calories, but no avocados. At the beginning and end of the 12 weeks, researchers measured participants' abdominal fat and their glucose tolerance, a measure of metabolism and a marker of diabetes. Female participants who consumed an avocado daily had a reduction in visceral abdominal fat. These results suggest a healthier redistribution of fat. However, the fat distribution pattern in men did not change, with neither men nor women showing any improvement in glucose tolerance. So a dietary pattern that includes an avocado every day influences the way people store body fat in a way that is beneficial to their health. The knowledge outthis studythat the benefits were only evident in women shows that gender also plays a role in the response to dietary interventions.
