SubscribeorLogin
Literature Review and Commentary

Literature Review and Commentary

by | Jan 1, 2023

Post Categories: Cardiovascular Health | Menstrual Health | Nutrition and Lifestyle

Can Eating Avocados Prevent Heart Disease?

The association between avocado consumption and risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) was examined in a prospective cohort study of 68,786 women from the Nurses’ Health Study and 41,701 men from the Health Professionals Follow-up Study who were free of cancer, coronary heart disease, and stroke at baseline. Diet was assessed with food frequency questionnaires at baseline and again every four years. During 30 years of follow-up, a total of 14,274 incident cases of CVD (9,185 coronary heart disease events and 5,290 strokes) were documented. After adjusting for lifestyle and other dietary factors, compared with non-consumers, those with higher avocado intake (2 servings or more per week) had a 16% lower risk of CVD (pooled hazard ratio = 0.84; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.75-0.95) and a 21% lower risk of coronary heart disease (pooled hazard ratio = 0.79; 95% CI, 0.68-0.91). No significant associations were found for stroke. For each half-serving per day increase in avocado intake, the pooled hazard ratio for CVD was 0.80 (95% CI, 0.71-0.91). Replacing half a serving per day of margarine, butter, egg, yogurt, cheese, or processed meats with the equivalent amount of avocado was associated with a 16-22% lower risk of CVD.

Register below to read this article, free!

Create a free account to access this content and get more of Townsend Letter's top stories directly to your inbox.

Or, subscribe for full access.

Return to Previous Page or Log in.

Already Subscribed?

Log In

Search

Formatting updates are ongoing for older articles.

Author

Alan R. Gaby, MD

Featured Articles

Where are your Clinical Trials?

It has proven to be difficult, if not impossible, to proceed to full-scale randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for most of the natural methods that cannot be patented or otherwise monopolized. 

A Renewed Focus on Self-Help for Healing

As the producer of The Moss Report, the year leading up to the Covid-19 pandemic was filled with anticipation and excitement. We had invested years of hard work and significant resources into two major projects: our feature film, Immunotherapy: The Battle Within, and...

Issue Archives

Event Calendar

Events

Today

  • 2026 Association of Natural Health Conference

    Douglasville Conference Center Douglasville, GA, United States

    "From Practitioner to Leader: Clinical Excellence, Business Mastery & Sustainable Practice" Discover how clinical excellence, business mastery, and sustainable systems can help practitioners grow into confident leaders and build practices designed for long-term impact. Why Attend? Three days of learning, connection, and growth designed for every stage of your practice journey. Learn from Leading Voices Gain insights from top experts in natural health, holistic wellness, and functional medicine. Hands-On Learning Participate in in-depth workshops, real-world case studies, and interactive sessions you can apply immediately. Meaningful Networking Connect with like-minded professionals, students, and exhibitors who share your passion for natural health. Practical Tools & Approaches Explore new strategies and tools to elevate both your practice and your own health journey. Who Should Attend? This conference is built for a wide community of natural health professionals, educators, and advocates - wherever you are in your journey. Licensed & Clinical Practitioners Doctors, chiropractors, acupuncturists, naturopaths, and functional or integrative medicine practitioners looking to sharpen clinical skills and grow into stronger practice leaders. Allied Health Professionals Bio-feedback technicians and other allied practitioners seeking hands-on training and the latest tools in natural and holistic care. Educators & Students Natural health educators and students entering the […]

  • Food as Medicine Global 2026

    Virtual Event

    Join health professionals, farmers, food producers, researchers, educators, nonprofit leaders, chefs, policymakers, community organizers, food advocates, public health practitioners, nutritionists, and other changemakers as we convene to share knowledge, build partnerships, and explore new possibilities for improving health, strengthening communities, and creating more equitable and sustainable food systems. This year’s program features inspiring speakers and practical examples of collaboration at the intersection of food, health, social justice, and planetary well-being. Together, we’ll explore innovative approaches to Food as Medicine, community-led initiatives, nutrition, public health, regenerative agriculture, and equitable access to healthy food. Whether you work in health care, agriculture, food production, education, research, policy, or community development, you will discover new ideas, meaningful connections, and practical strategies to advance healthier, more resilient communities. Virtual  |  Join from anywhere in the world Check out the Program: https://tinyurl.com/Food-as-Medicine-for-All

  • The Midlife Women’s Health Summit: Evidence-Based Menopause Care in the Era of Longevity Medicine

    The Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City 1250 S Hayes St, Arlington, VA, United States
    Hybrid Event

    Menopause Care in the Longevity Era Longevity medicine is everywhere right now. Supplements, protocols, influencer clinics, patients walking in with questions about interventions their doctors have never heard of. What's missing from most of it is the evidence. The Midlife Women's Health Summit is three days on what the research actually says about menopause care when you add a longevity lens. What works, what doesn't, what's being oversold, and what to tell the patient sitting in front of you. Co-chaired by Lisa Larkin, MD, FACP, MSCP, IF, Jen Gunter, MD, FRCS(C), FACOG, DABPM, ABPMR, and Lauren Streicher, MD, FACOG, MSCP; three of the clearest voices in women's health on separating data from marketing.

    $995 – $1299

Full Event Calendar

Submit Your Event

Related Posts

From Mutation to Metabolism: A Broader View of Cancer Development

By Erik Peper, PhD, BCB, and Richard Harvey, PhD – SMT framework has guided the “War on Cancer” and has led to remarkable advances in targeted therapies, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiation treatments. These strategies have saved countless lives, yet they primarily focus on eliminating malignant cells rather than understanding why normal cells become malignant in the first place.

Read More

, Oct 31, 2026

The Miracle of Chelation Therapy: Removing Environmental Toxins to Reduce Illness and Restore Homeostasis

By John Parks Trowbridge, MD, FACAM – By reducing the toxic load of metals like lead, mercury, cadmium, and arsenic, chelation therapy supports better neurological, cardiovascular, and immune health. The Food and Drug Administration has approved DMSA for reduction of lead toxic body burden and EDTA for lead and certain cadmium conditions.

Read More

Oct 31, 2026

0 Comments

Submit a Comment