Can Nighttime Avocado Snack Improve Heart Health? New Study Says Yes

The results showed that avocado aled to slightly lower triglyceride levels before breakfast and significantly lower levels three hours after eating, compared to the other snacks. No notable differences were observed in glucose, insulin, or inflammatory markers.

“Our findings suggest that avocado’s unique nutrient package its whole-food matrix may further support heart health by encouraging healthier triglyceride metabolism,” said Britt Burton-Freeman, study author and professor and chair of the Department of Food Science and Nutrition at Illinois Institute of Technology. “While the good fats and fiber in avocados already make them a satisfying snack, this research is making us think about how snacks before bed something 84% of people consume regularly can influence how the body handles food later. “It’s really intriguing to find a positive outcome when the snack is avocado given the concerns about late-night eating contributing to increased risk of obesity and cardiometabolic conditions.”

While more long-term studies are needed, especially to understand the impact on other health markers, this research offers promising insight into how avocado as a nighttime snack may support better heart health in those at risk.

Reference: Using the Avocado as an Evening Snack to Investigate Whole Food Matrix and Macronutrient Composition on Morning Metabolic Indices in Adults With Prediabetes, Preiss, Chelsea et al., Current Developments in Nutrition, Volume 9, Issue 7, 107486