That substitution may be more meaningful than simply adding avocado on top of an already calorie-rich meal.
What a Major Study Found
A large observational study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association in 2022 examined dietary information from more than 110,000 American adults over approximately three decades.
Researchers reported that participants who consumed at least two servings of avocado per week had a 16% lower observed risk of cardiovascular disease and a 21% lower observed risk of coronary heart disease compared with those who rarely or never consumed avocados.
The researchers also found favorable associations when avocado replaced certain foods containing saturated fat.
These results are promising, but they do not prove that eating avocados directly prevents heart disease.
Observational studies can identify relationships, yet other lifestyle and dietary differences may contribute to the findings.
Nevertheless, the research supports the broader recommendation to choose more unsaturated plant fats as part of a heart-conscious eating pattern.
