Creamy, luscious, buttery-smooth—and it may be good for your pancreas, too. We're talking about the avocado.
Why? Because it's got plant fats. And research shows that getting more of your dietary fat from plants instead of animals could offer a protective edge against pancreatic cancer.
Don't give up the fat
In a 6-year study of more than half a million people, those with the highest intake of saturated fat—particularly if it was from red meat and dairy sources—had the greatest risk of pancreatic cancer. But here's the good news: People who got most of their fats from plant sources had no increased risk. Start your meal off right with the plant fats in these appealing appetizers.
Fabulous fat substitutes
So how can avocados help you cut back on animal fat? Try a few slices on your bagel—instead of cream cheese—when you crave something fatty. Or make guacamole instead of ranch dip for your baked chips. Or, instead of cubes of cheese, fold chunks of avocado into pasta salad.
Even if you focus on plant fats, you will still need to exercise portion control, because all fats are high in calories. And you don't want your pants size to skyrocket. So use the tips in this video to pick the perfect portion size.
Medically reviewed in April 2019.
