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It’s no secret — the Women’s Health team are slightly obsessed with avocados (what would our office ‘lunch club’ salads be without a little avo?!). So, when we heard that someone had invented a ‘diet’ version of our favourite fruit, we had to do a little investigating for ourselves. The smooth, green-fleshed, endlessly Instagrammable avo is already so popular that people (including us) spend a good portion of our salaries on it.
TIME recently reported that American’s are spending over $900 000 a month on avocado toast alone — we can believe it!. So, the big question on our lips is… can you really improve on the humble avocado?
READ MORE: This Is How Many Avocados It’s Safe To Eat Per Week
Well, Spanish food company Isla Bonita sure thinks so. Meet: Avocado Light, a “diet avocado” with 30 percent less fat than the original. The company says they conducted exhaustive analyses to back up their ‘lighter’ fruit claim, and the frankenfruit has already been given the thumbs-up from the Spanish Heart Foundation’s Food Health Programme.
So, how does it compare to a normal avo then? The Avocado Light is described as having a “mild” flavour and “a juicier and lighter pulp,” making it “ideal for the smoothies, cold soup, gazpachos, [and] cocktails.” Isla Bonita also claims their avocado “oxidizes more slowly,” making it longer-lasting (i.e. no gross brown/black spots) than the real deal. And because this baby is human-engineered, it will be available year-round—but only in Spain.
READ MORE: 10 Things To Make With Avocado That Don’t Involve Toast
But before you book yourself a trip to Spain to indulge in this creamy delight, you should know that it’s probably illegal to stuff them in a suitcase and bring them into the country and avocado fat is good for you.
“The monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids present in avocados help to promote a healthy blood lipid profile,” says registered dietician Maya Feller who spoke to our sister publication in the US. And thanks to their high fat content, a healthy serving of avocado (that would be about 1/5 of the fruit, although most people typically eat 1/4 to 1/2 in one sitting) actually keeps you fuller longer.
“Studies have found that people who consume avocados as part of a balanced healthy diet have smaller waist circumference and are less likely to overeat and are more successful in losing weight and maintaining lost weight.” There you go, folks!
READ MORE: Hold Up – Should We Be Eating The Avocado Seed?
Cutting out the fat, then, has the potential of making avocados less satisfying, and could “change the nutrient profile and may alter the benefits,” says Feller. So, for now, you’re better off letting the Spaniards keep their ‘diet avocado’ and simply keeping your avocado servings in check.
Bring on that avo toast!
This article was originally published on Women's Health South Africa.
