By Fiona Macrae Science Correspondent
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Avocados could be a weapon in the fight against ageing and disease, say scientists.
Oil from the fruit was shown in tests to combat free radicals â€" dangerous molecules said to have a hand in everything from ageing to heart disease and cancer.
These are particularly common inside mitochondria, the tiny powerhouses in our cells that turn the food we eat into energy.
Elixir: Oil from the avocado could have huge health benefits and slow down the ageing process
Many ‘antioxidant’ chemicals in vegetables and fruits such as carrots and tomatoes can mop up free radicals â€" but they can’t make their way inside mitochondria.
Those in avocados can, the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology’s annual conference heard. Researcher Christian Cortes-Rojo said: ‘The problem is that the antioxidants in [other] substances are unable to enter mitochondria.
‘So free radicals go on damaging mitochondria, causing energy production to stop and the cell to collapse and die.
‘An analogy would be that, during an oil spill, if we cleaned only the spilled oil instead of fixing the perforation where oil is escaping, then the oil would go on spilling, and fish would die anyway.’
Ravages of time: Active ingredients in the fruit's oil tackles the destructive force of free radicals which damage cells as we age, scientist say
Unstable free radicals are natural waste products of metabolism but may be generated in greater numbers due to factors such as pollution, tobacco smoke and radiation.
They wreak havoc in the body, triggering chain reactions that destroy cell membranes, proteins and even DNA.
The phenomenon is one of the prime drivers of ageing and believed to play a major role in damage to arteries and cancer.
The researchers found avocado oil allowed yeast cells to survive exposure to high concentrations of iron â€" an element that produces ‘huge amounts’ of free radicals.
‘We’ll need to confirm that what has been observed in yeasts could occur in higher organisms, such as humans,’ said Mr Cortes-Rojo, from the University Michoacana de San Nicolas de Hidalgo in Mexico.
Avocado oil is similar in composition to olive oil, consumption of which is associated with unusually low levels of chronic disease in some Mediterranean countries, and Mr Cortes-Rojo said his discovery could mean avocado oil becoming ‘the olive oil of the Americas’.
Previous research conducted in Mexico, the world’s largest avocado producer, has shown that the fruit lowers blood levels of cholesterol, and certain fats linked to diabetes.
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At long last the experts have come up with SOMETHING that IS good for us'---- Well Welll Well what do you know.--- BUT this is just a blip because it will NOT be long before they say they are NOT good for us.-- Anyway NOT everybody likes them
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You are what you eat.
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...give it a few weeks and you'll get another "expert" telling us how bad avocados are for us
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I eat loads of them and still look like an old prune.
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Obviously a Glut of Avocados this year.
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Avocados are 'Natures Butter' .
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And the price just doubled, well done the supermarket chains of the UK, pricelss advertising.
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Never need to be persuaded to eat these fruits of the gods - even less so now, Gorgeous AND healthy - what could be better!
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Just reduce your stress and you will longer, and be happier : )
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It is also rich in potassium.
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