Hass Avocado Board-Sponsored Symposium Clears Up Consumer Fat Confusion

Boston, MA – A symposium exploring factors contributing to consumer confusion around the health benefits of unsaturated fats, and empowering nutrition researchers to work with the media took place at the 2015 American Society for Nutrition Scientific Sessions at Experimental Biology (EB).

The symposium, “A Healthy Approach to Dietary Fat Consumption: Understanding the Science and Taking Action to Clear Up Consumer Confusion,” was chaired by Dariush Mozzafarian, MD, DrPH, Dean of Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, who provided a historical perspective on dietary fat recommendations. Frank Hu, MD, PhD, MPH, Professor of Nutrition and Epidemiology, Harvard University, and Penny Kris-Etherton, PhD, RD, Distinguished Professor of Nutrition, Pennsylvania State University were part of the presentation team and reviewed epidemiological and clinical research findings, respectively, that support the benefits of unsaturated fats to human health. Additionally, Kathleen Zelman, MPH, RD, LD, Director of Nutrition, WebMD highlighted ways that nutrition researchers can work with the media to help consumers better understand dietary fat research findings.

“Educating nutrition researchers and helping them have a stronger media voice is important to reverse years of mixed messages around dietary fat.” said Nikki Ford, PhD, Director of Nutrition, Hass Avocado Board (HAB).  “We continue to support clinical studies to strengthen the good fat story and improve understanding of the unique, positive benefits of consuming fresh avocados, a fruit known for its good unsaturated fat content.”

HAB is supporting clinical studies to investigate the unique, positive benefits of consuming fresh Hass avocados to human health and nutrition. Research is currently underway to investigate the relationship between avocado consumption and risk factors for cardiovascular disease, avocados’ potential positive role in weight management and diabetes, and avocados’ ability to enhance nutrient absorption.

About the Hass Avocado Board

The Hass Avocado Board (HAB) is an agriculture promotion group established in 2002 to promote the consumption of Hass Avocados in the United States. A 12-member board representing domestic producers and importers of Hass Avocados directs HAB’s promotion, research and information programs under supervision of the United States Department of Agriculture. Funding for HAB comes from Hass avocado producers and importers in the United States.

In 2010, HAB established a nutrition research program to increase awareness and improve understanding of the unique benefits of avocados to human health.

For a comprehensive collection of published nutrition and scientific literature, authoritative reports and other articles on or related to avocados, their nutrients and eating patterns that include them, visit avocadonutritioncenter.com.

For tips and recipes, visit loveonetoday.comor follow HAB on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube.

Source: Hass Avocado Board