Adding one avocado and a cup of mango to your daily diet could help keep your heart healthy and stave off type 2 diabetes, research suggests. A study found that adults with prediabetes who ate the combination every day for eight weeks saw improvements in blood vessel function and diastolic blood pressure, which are both indicators of cardiovascular wellness
Dr Britt Burton-Freeman, a professor at the Illinois Institute of Technology in the USA, said: “It’s an encouraging message: small, nutrient-dense additions — like incorporating avocado and mango into meals and snacks — may support heart health without the need for strict rules or major dietary overhauls.”
A total of 82 healthy adults, who were overweight or obese but free from major chronic conditions, took part in the research.
They were assigned to consume either a diet including one medium Hass avocado and a fresh mango daily, or a control diet.
Mango is a good source of fibre and vitamin C, while avocado is a good source of fibre and healthy fats.
Those eating the fruit combination saw significant improvements in blood vessel function and other measures of blood vessel health.
*** Ensure our latest news headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings. ***
Participants eating avocados and mangoes also saw increases in their fibre, vitamin C and monounsaturated fat intake, which have been linked to heart and circulatory health, without gaining weight or increasing their overall calorie intake.
Men eating avocados and mangoes also saw a small reduction in blood pressure.
Writing in the Journal of the American Heart Association, the researchers said: “Adding 1 avocado and 1 cup of mango per day reduces dietary risk factors and improves vascular health indices, serving as a practical strategy toward improving cardiovascular outcomes through a modifiable lifestyle intervention.”
Dr Burton-Freeman added: “This research reinforces the power of food-first strategies to help reduce cardiovascular disease risk, particularly in vulnerable populations like those with prediabetes.”
Source link
