No matter if they’re spread on toast, mashed into guacamole, or simply sprinkled with salt, it’s clear that avocados are God’s gift to the food world. According to new scientific research, avocados might also be God’s gift to medicine.
The Washington Post reports that the buttery, delectable avocado is “being used in the development of a drug that researchers hope will one day be able to fight blood cancer.”
According to a study published in the journal Cancer Research, a type of fat found in avocados (called Avocatin B) has been shown to destroy leukemia stem cells while leaving healthy cells unharmed. More specifically, avocado fat helps combat a type of deadly leukemia called acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
Why is destroying stem cells so important in the fight against cancer? According to the man who authored the study about avocado fat, Paul Spagnuolo, the continued presence of cancer stem cells is what causes the cancer to come back in many patients (this is called relapse).
Although a leukemia drug made from avos is still “years away” according to The Washington Post, Spagnuolo hopes that the drug will help increase AML patients’ life expectancy or quality of life once its on the market.
What are some other health benefits associated with the antioxidant-rich miracle fruit, apart from its cancer-fighting fat? Eating a ton of avocados can help lower blood cholesterol and also help promote healthy hair and skin.
And that’s exactly why we rub our bodies down with guacamole every day after work.