Healthy Living: Scientists reveal yet another health benefit of avocado

 Scientists have added another healthy credential to its list of benefits, suggesting that there is "satisfactory clinical evidence" that avocado could help treat metabolic syndrome and support weight loss.

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of risk factors (obesity, low levels of good cholesterol, high blood pressure, etc.) that combine to increase your risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and strokes.

Eating a healthy diet is considered one of the best ways to reduce your metabolic risk. The new review (published in the journal Phytotherapy Research) suggests that avocados should also play a significant part of what you consume.

The team of scientists reviewed previous studies that looked at the effects of the fruit on metabolic health. They discovered that avocado has the strongest impact on lipid (cholesterol) levels. One study of 67 adults saw a reduction in total and LDL cholesterol - often deemed the "unhealthy cholesterol" - after eating an avocado-rich diet for just one week. In a number of studies, the researchers also found avocado had positive effects on blood pressure.

They also highlighted the benefits of avocado for weight loss and cited one study, which found overweight and obese adults who ate one avocado every day for six weeks experienced significant decreases in body weight, BMI and body fat percentages.

Before you go reaching for an avocado and chucking away the peel – the scientists also revealed that the flesh, peel, seed and leaves of the fruit could all be beneficial for health.

However, Medical News Today report that the study co-author Hossein Hosseinzadeh, of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences explained that further research is needed: