American Diabetes Association recommends avocados

SANTA ANA, Calif. (HISPANIC PR WIRE) – Hispanic diabetics may eat avocados again.

The latest guidelines issued by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) stress a diet rich in monounsaturated fat for improved diabetes control. According to the guidelines, people with diabetes are no longer limited to a low-carbohydrate/low-fat diet and may instead choose a higher-monounsaturated fat diet that includes avocados.

“This is good news for Hispanics, as diabetes occurrences are twice as often in Hispanics than (in) the general population,” said Dr. Aliza Lifshitz, who’s been a leading physician and source of health information for Hispanics for more than 10 years through her TV and radio broadcasts. “These new guidelines allow for traditional favorites like avocados to be included in a healthy diabetes eating plan.”

The guidelines are part of the “American Diabetes Association’s Evidence-Based Nutrition Principles and Recommendations for the Treatment and Prevention of Diabetes and Related Complications,” a report released earlier this year. Specifically, the new guidelines recommend that carbohydrate and monounsaturated fat intake should account for between 60 and 70 percent of a diabetic’s caloric intake and that between 15 and 20 percent should come from protein. Avocados are among the top food sources recommended for monounsaturated fat.

In addition, the guidelines suggest that less than 10 percent of a diabetic’s caloric intake should come from saturated fats. Overall, each individual’s metabolic profile and need to lose weight should determine the total fat intake.
Además, indican que el consumo de calorías provenientes de grasas saturadas debería ser menor al 10% de las calorías totales. Lo que determina el consumo total de grasas depende del metabolismo y el peso de la persona.

“Avocados are the highest fruit source of monounsaturated fat, the fat known to lower artery-clogging LDL cholesterol and raise heart-healthy HDL cholesterol,” said Dr. Aliza. “Diabetes meal plans should include avocados in salads, soups and even as a spread in a delicious wheat tortilla.”

Studies show it is more important than ever for people with higher-than-normal blood glucose levels to consume nutritionally sound foods such as avocados. Results from the “Diabetes Prevention Program,” a landmark clinical study from the National Institute for Health released in August 2001, indicate that diet intervention and exercise conclusively slash the risk of type II diabetes by up to 58 percent. According to the ADA, at least 10 million Americans are at high risk for type II diabetes, the most common form of diabetes, in which the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or body cells ignore the insulin.

While avocados may be best known for their monounsaturated fat, they contain other nutrients that are beneficial to diabetics. Recent research from UCLA indicates that California avocados are the highest fruit source of the antioxidant vitamin E, which is known to neutralize free radicals that may cause some of the complications of diabetes, such as heart disease and nerve damage. In addition, avocados are naturally cholesterol and sodium free and can offer a healthy alternative to traditional Hispanic foods, such as cheese and sour cream.

For more nutrition information and meal planning ideas, www.aguacate.org.

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Doreen