Consuming Half an Avocado During Lunch Can Make an Overweight Person Feel Full Longer, Says Study from Loma Linda University Health
Loma Linda, CA (PRWEB) January 08, 2014 -- Overweight adults who eat about half of a Hass avocado during lunch can feel more full for a longer period of time, reports a new study from Loma Linda University Health.
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.
“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 link: http://www.nutritionj.com/content/12/1/155.
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About Loma Linda University Health (LLUH)
Loma Linda University Health includes Loma Linda University's eight professional schools, Loma Linda University Medical Center's six hospitals and more than 900 faculty physicians located in the Inland Empire of Southern California. Established in 1905, LLUH is a global leader in education, research and clinical care. It offers over 100 academic programs and provides quality health care to 40,000 inpatients and 1.5 million outpatients each year. A Seventh-day Adventist organization, LLUH is a faith-based health system with a mission "to continue the teaching and healing ministry of Jesus Christ."
CONTACT: Herbert Atienza, 909-558-8419, hatienza(at)llu(dot)edu
Herbert Atienza, Loma Linda University Health, http://www.lomalindahealth.org, +1 (909) 558-8419, [email protected]
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