Avocados and Glutathione and Diabetes
Dr. Robert O. Young was once asked the
question from one of his students while teaching his Microscopy Course,
"what one food will improve my health and the health of my family more than
any other?" Dr. Young replied without a moment of hesitation, "THE AVOCADO."
He said, "It's just about the perfect food." Also, in Shelley Young's food
preparation classes she always refers to the Avocado as "God's Butter."
The avocado originally came from Persia. It has been popular in South and
Central America, Mexico and now in the U.S. The monounsaturated fat content
gives the avocado its smooth, melon taste and nut-like flavor.
The latest guidelines issued by the
American Diabetes Association emphasize 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
and olive oil. On pages 70 through 120 of the Annual Review of Diabetes
2002, the American Diabetes Association in their report, "Evidence-Based
Nutrition Principals and Recommendations for the Treatment and Prevention of
Diabetes and Related Complications," recommends that carbohydrate and
monounsaturated fat intake should account for 60 - 70% of calorie intake for
people with diabetes, and 15 - 20% should come from protein.
The new American Diabetes Association
guidelines also present evidence that a diet high in good monounsaturated
fat can improve glucose tolerance and reduce insulin resistance allowing for
better control of diabetes.
Dr Young suggests, "Anyone with low or high blood sugar, or type I or type
II diabetes, can significantly regulate their blood sugars by eating liberal
amounts of avocados."
Studies confirm this showing that avocados are an essential food for people
with higher than normal blood glucose levels. Results for the Diabetes
Prevention Program, a landmark clinical trail from the National Institute
for Health released in August 2001, indicate that diet intervention and
exercise conclusively slash Type 2 diabetes risk by up to 58%.
The compound profile of the avocado includes a cholesterol-lowering by a
phytosterol called beta-sitosterol and the anti-acid glutathione, according
to Dr. David Huber, director of the UCLA Center for Human Nutrition.
Evidence suggests phytosterol and glutathione found in avocados may help
prevent certain types of cancers and heart disease in humans.
"The avocado has long been known for its special taste enhancing
properties," Heber said. "However, new research demonstrates that avocados
provide favorable phytochemicals that work in combination with biochemicals
from other foods in the diet to enhance overall health."
Scientific evidence from a May 1999
study conducted under the California Avocado Commission shows that
nutrient-dense avocados contain 76 mg. of beta-sitosterol per 100 grams of
fruit. This is more than 4 times the beta-sitosterol found in other commonly
eaten fruits, such as bananas, apples, cantaloupes, grapes, plums and
cherries. Also, avocados do not have all the sugar that raises blood
glucose! In addition, avocados contain at least twice the amount of beta-sitosterol
found in other foods, including corn, green soybeans and olives.
Beta-sitosterol is a plant sterol that
occurs naturally in the avocado, according to Dr. David Heber, director of
the UCLA Center for Human Nutrition and author of "What Color is your Diet."
Does color matter in veggies?
Beta-sitosterol can inhibit
cholesterol absorption in the intestine resulting in lower blood cholesterol
levels. In animal studies, phytosterol has been shown to inhibit the growth
of tumors, particularly the growth of prostate tumors. A survey conducted by
the National Cancer Institute in 1992 demonstrated that ounce per ounce, the
glutathione content of avocados is three times that of bananas, apples,
cantaloupes, grapes, plums and cherries. Glutathione is composed of three
amino acids and functions as a buffer, neutralizing acids that can cause
damage to cells in the body during the process of aging, heart disease and
cancer. Numerous studies have linked glutathione to the prevention of
various types of cancer, including cancer of the mouth and pharynx, and also
The California avocado is an excellent
dietary source of glutathione and phytosterol, further demonstrating the
value of the diverse plant-based diet and providing micronutrients that may
have unique roles in the body and the potential to improve overall health
and prevent chronic disease.
According to Heber, he has discovered that avocados contain a biochemical
called lutien, which is a carotenoid recently discovered in avocados and
found in green vegetables to help protect against cancer, including Prostate
UCLA lab tests showed that lutein
reduces Prostate Cancer cell growth by 25%, while lycopene from tomatoes
reduce cell growth by 20%. When lutein and lycopene were combined, Prostate
Cancer cell growth was reduced by 32%. This indicates that both nutrients
together help protect against Prostate Cancer better than either nutrient
"Lutein and lycopene combination
appear to have additive or synergistic effects against Prostate Cancer, our
results suggest that further study should be done to investigate the
nutrient interactions of lutein and lycopene at a subcellular and molecular
level," said Heber.
Traditionally, lutein has been found in green vegetables such as parsley,
celery and spinach, but was recently discovered in avocados. In fact,
research shows that avocados are the highest fruit source of lutein among
the 20 most frequently consumed fruits. In addition to the new Prostate
Cancer findings, lutein is also known to protect against eye disease such as
cataracts and macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in the
elderly, due to diabetes.
The new research at UCLA also indicates that avocados have nearly twice as
much vitamin E as previously reported, making avocados the highest fruit
source of this powerful buffer of acid. Vitamin E is known to slow the aging
process and protect against heart disease and common forms of cancer by
neutralizing acids, which may cause cellular damage. Heber states, "avocados
are recognized as an excellent source of monounsaturated fat which is known
to lower cholesterol levels, but the antioxidant and biochemical properties
of avocados are less well-recognized. These plant nutrients naturally found
in fruits and vegetables work together to reduce oxidative stress and
prevent disease." Heber, along with 35 scientists at the UCLA Center for
Human Nutrition, has long endorsed a diet based on 5 to 11 servings per day
of a diverse selection of fruits and vegetables like the avocado. Worldwide
research demonstrates the high intake of fruits and vegetables are
associated with better health due largely to their disease-fighting
The oil also gives the avocado its high food energy value. The avocado
contains fourteen minerals, all of which regulate body functions and
stimulate growth. Especially, noteworthy are its iron and copper contents,
which aid in red blood cell regeneration and the prevention of nutritional
anemia. It also contains a higher source of potassium than bananas and
sodium, which gives it a high alkaline reaction without all the sugar. The
avocado contains no starch and very little sugar and therefore does not
raise blood sugar levels but provides a high source of fat, 80%, which the
body can metabolize for energy and use for construction of cellular
membranes. The avocado is also a great source of protein at 10 to 15%.
all the reasons above, the avocado will be one of the most important foods
that you eat and has been a major player in reversing Cancer, Heart Disease,
and Type I and Type II diabetes as the body moves away from sugar metabolism
to fat metabolism and all its protective attributes. Dr Robert O. Young
suggests 2 to 3 avocados a day, for a 154 lb. man or woman, as good fats are
at the foundation of balancing blood sugars and the pH Miracle Lifestyle and
Diet. One of our favorite avocado breakfasts is the Avocado Kid Green Shake
or a bowl of broccoli, avocado and tomato.
One of the most important substances required by the immune system for
optimal functioning, is an amino acid complex called glutathione.
However, supplementation is made difficult by the complexity of the body’s
system for delivering glutathione to cells. Canadian researchers
figured out a way to deliver glutathione effectively