Avocados offer a very unique combination of fiber, saturated fat and monounsaturated
fatty acids (MUFA) which help maintaining optimal glucose concentration in blood.
Being rich in fiber, moderate in MUFA and low in saturated fats (<7% of calories),
avocados seem to be a potential therapeutic diet for type 2diabetics. Avocados are also
unique in the sense that they are the only source of Avocatin B, which is a 1:1 mixture
of two long chain polyols (avocadyne and avocadene).
Avocation B and Diabetes
Large-scale epidemiological studies have shown that avocado intake for a period of three months can result in lower glucose concentration. Also, supplementation of diet with avocatin B improved glucose tolerance, dropped insulin resistance in mice. It is a well-known fact that increased oxidation of fats in mitochondria of cells induces insulin resistance in cells. When lipid oxidation in muscle cells and pancreatic beta cells was followed in presence of avocation B, it was found that Avocatin B treatment inhibited fatty acid oxidation, reduced generation of reactive oxygen species and caused more insulin production in pancreatic beta cells and improved insulin sensitivity in muscle cells.
Avocatin B and Leukemia
Like all other normal body cells, the leukemia cells utilize fatty acid oxidation as an energy source. Avocatin B has been shown to inhibit the growth of leukemia cells by disrupting this oxidation, leading to the death of these cancer cells. Besides diabetes, avaocatin help reducing leukemia cells and slow down growth of cancer.
The creamy texture of avocado paste complemented by seasoning with salt, pepper, chilli flakes, garlic and basil offers a very quick and convenient option for fighting everyday oxidative stress and associated diseases.
For further Readings
- Associations between Metabolomic Biomarkers of Avocado Intake and Glycemia in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis
- Avocado-derived polyols for use as novel co-surfactants in low energy self-emulsifying microemulsions
- Avocado-derived avocadyne is a potent inhibitor of fatty acid oxidation
