Scientists Just Linked Avocados to Better Sleep – Here's the Scoop
Following an analysis of the largest ever randomised control trial on avocados, researchers were surprised to find that the fruit may play a role in sleep – which scientists are increasingly viewing as a key lifestyle factor in heart health. In fact, the consensus among the scientific community is that sleep is as important for overall health as nutrition and exercise.
Published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, the study analysed data from a previous randomised control trial, the largest ever on avocado consumption. A total of 969 American adults with elevated waist circumference were studied, and participants were randomised to one of two groups: those who consumed one avocado per day and those whose avocado intake was minimal (less than two avocados per month). All participants continued eating their usual diets during the 26-week study.
The researchers found that daily avocado intake was associated with improved diet quality, reduced cholesterol levels, and better sleep health. In other words, participants self-reported getting more sleep.
While the researchers could not say for sure why avocados may play a role in better sleep, particularly because it wasn't something they were actively investigating, they suggest potential nutritional explanations. One serving of avocado (equating to one-third of a medium avocado) contains 13mg of tryptophan, which is a precursor to melatonin (a key player in sleep regulation), 45mcg of folate, which is involved with the production of melatonin, and 15mg of magnesium, which is involved in muscle contraction and relaxation.
Even if you're not a fan of eating avocados neat, they are easy to freeze and add to smoothies and protein shakes. So, if you're looking for easy, everyday ways to improve sleep (and overall health), upping your avocado intake could be a good start. According to the latest National Nutrition Survey, less than one in five adults met the 5-a-day fruit and vegetable recommendation. Eating more avocados and incorporating them into dishes is also a way of getting closer to that target.
While the researchers point to many strengths of this study, they also highlight that the results aren't entirely conclusive and can't yet be generalised to all populations. At this point, they have found a link rather than a definitive cause.
However, considering sleep wasn't the primary outcome they were studying, the results prompt more research into the topic – and highlight even more potentially promising health benefits of the humble avocado.
Besides, combining carbs, healthy fats, and fibre, avocado on toast makes a great post-gym snack. Add some eggs for extra protein.
You Might Also Like
The 23 Best Foods to Build Muscle
10 of the Best Waterproof Boots to Buy in 2019
6 Ways to Improve Your Mental Health
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Lifeway Foods Celebrates June 18 as National Kefir Day
Official proclamation and events to take place in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and Miami, celebrating the power of probiotics and encouraging communities to #DiscoverLifeway MORTON GROVE, Ill., June 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Lifeway Foods, Inc. (NASDAQ: LWAY) ("Lifeway" or "the Company"), a leading U.S. supplier of kefir and fermented probiotic products to support the microbiome, proudly announces the launch of National Kefir Day, to be celebrated annually on June 18. This new holiday recognizes the cultural and nutritional impact of kefir and honors Lifeway's nearly 40-year legacy of advancing gut health and wellness in America. The official proclamation will take place at a press event outside the Illinois Medical District in Chicago, the city where Lifeway was founded. The event will feature remarks from key leaders in government, medicine and nutrition, including: Julie Smolyansky, President and CEO of Lifeway Foods and UIC graduate Illinois State Senator Willie Preston Cook County Commissioner Josina Morita Allyson Hansen, Executive Director of the Illinois Medical District Dr. Shikha Jain, oncologist and faculty member at University of Illinois Cancer Center Location: 1900 W Harrison St (outdoors) or 2100 W Harrison St (indoors) in case of rain Time: 10:00am CT Ms. Smolyansky will kick off the day with remarks on medical advancements in gut health and kefir's role in supporting immunity, inflammation response and overall wellness. The event will emphasize the growing connection between the gut microbiome and chronic disease prevention. "National Kefir Day is more than just a date, it's a movement," said Julie Smolyansky, President and CEO of Lifeway Foods. "For nearly four decades, Lifeway has been at the forefront of bringing kefir to American homes. This proclamation solidifies our commitment to promoting gut health, sustainability, and mindful nutrition. We're thrilled to mark the occasion with the city of Chicago, where our journey began. My father started making kefir in our basement, driven by the belief that food can heal. What began as a small family dream has blossomed into a global gut health phenomenon. Lifeway has led the probiotic beverage industry through groundbreaking research, innovative product development, and consumer education. National Kefir Day is more than a milestone for Lifeway, it reflects a cultural shift towards embracing the power of fermented foods for better health." Lifeway Kefir is made with 12 live and active probiotic cultures and is loaded with protein, calcium, and essential vitamins, offering powerful support for gut and immune health. Ms. Smolyansky will also be a keynote speaker at The Wall Street Journal's Global Food Forum on June 17th at 11:45am CT, where she will discuss the rapid growth of Lifeway Foods and the brand's dominant leadership in the kefir category. During the event, she will unveil plans for a voluntary new certification that aims to create a new model of trust and transparency in the dairy marketplace. As part of the celebration, free Lifeway Kefir samples will be distributed on Wednesday, June 18 at iconic locations in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and Miami. On June 18th, Lifeway will also hand out free kefir from the Company's home office in Morton Grove, IL and facility in Waukesha, WI. To keep the festivities going, Lifeway will sponsor a drone show over Lake Michigan on the evening of June 20th to honor Chicago as the "Kefir Capital of the World," and delight audiences with images from the Company and city's history. To mark nearly four decades of gut health leadership, Lifeway is inviting its most passionate fans to make it permanent. As part of the National Kefir Day festivities, the company is launching a tattoo challenge, rewarding fans who show their lifelong love for Lifeway with a year of free kefir. Choose a Lifeway-inspired tattoo, whether it's your favorite Lifeway product, the brand logo, or a creative design related to Lifeway and gut health, then share a photo or video of your tattoo on Instagram or TikTok, tag @lifewaykefir, and use the hashtag #LifewayLovesYourGuts. About Lifeway Foods, Foods, Inc., which has been recognized as one of Forbes' Best Small Companies, is America's leading supplier of the probiotic, fermented beverage known as kefir. In addition to its line of drinkable kefir, the company also produces a variety of cheeses and a ProBugs line for kids. Lifeway's tart and tangy fermented dairy products are now sold across the United States, Mexico, Ireland, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, and France. Learn how Lifeway is good for more than just you at Perceptual AdvisorsDan TarmanEmail: dtarman@ Derek Miller Vice President of Communications, Lifeway FoodsEmail: derekm@ General inquiries:Lifeway Foods, 847-967-1010Email: info@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Lifeway Foods, Inc.
The Hill
an hour ago
- The Hill
President Trump should ambrace stronger, smarter mental health parity
As someone in long-term recovery and an advocate for those battling addiction and mental health conditions, I've seen countless families shattered and lives lost because desperately needed care was out of reach. Often, the barrier isn't a lack of effective treatments, but how insurance coverage for the mind is treated as less important than for the body. This is why the current juncture regarding the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act is so critical, and why I urge President Trump to not just preserve but to boldly strengthen parity for all Americans. The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, a landmark 2008 bipartisan law, was meant to end this discrimination. It requires health insurance for mental health and substance use disorders be no more restrictive than for medical or surgical care. Yet, for millions, this promise remains elusive. Insurers adeptly use opaque 'non-quantitative treatment limitations' — like restrictive prior authorizations, unequal network adequacy and disparate reimbursement rates — to deny or limit care. In September 2024, a final rule from the previous administration aimed to close loopholes and enhance enforcement. However, after a January 2025 lawsuit, the Trump administration announced in May a pause on enforcing the 2024 rule. It is now reconsidering, modifying or even rescinding the final rule. While some see this pause as a setback, I see it as a pivotal moment — an opportunity for President Trump to champion mental health and addiction parity with unprecedented force, truly making America healthy again. This isn't about more burdensome regulation; it's about smarter, fairer rules that save lives and money. The Trump administration has laid groundwork for this. In his first term, Trump signed Executive Order 13877, 'Improving Price and Quality Transparency in American Healthcare to Put Patients First,' noting 'opaque pricing structures may benefit powerful special interest groups…but they generally leave patients and taxpayers worse off.' This led to the 2020 Transparency in Coverage Final Rule, forcing insurers to disclose actual pricing. More recently, the president's February 2025 Executive Order 14221, 'Making America Healthy Again by Empowering Patients with Clear, Accurate, and Actionable Healthcare Pricing Information,' doubled down, stating, 'For far too long, prices were hidden from patients and employers … [allowing] powerful entities … to operate with insufficient accountability,' This executive order directs agencies to crack down on evasive pricing and reinvigorate Transparency in Coverage Rule enforcement, mandating public disclosure of actual prices and standardized data. Here lies the powerful convergence: The president's drive for insurer transparency is key to unlocking true mental health parity. Discriminatory practices thrive in darkness. When insurers must bring their mental health provider reimbursement rates, network adequacy standards, and addiction treatment prior authorization approval rates into daylight — alongside medical/surgical data — disparities become undeniable and indefensible. As The Kennedy Forum recently stated, 'Strong parity implementation will support the Administration's goals to reduce wasteful spending, promote transparency and efficiency, and Make America Healthy Again. The Administration's actions to make health insurance data transparent and actionable can also advance parity, providing insights into provider access, service coverage, and reimbursement issues.' They noted this would 'continue President Trump's legacy from his first term, when he advanced parity implementation and signed into law the bipartisan statute building on parity.' This is President Trump's chance to go further than any administration. Instead of merely tweaking or reinstating the 2024 rule, he must direct the departments of Health and Human Services, Labor and Treasury to craft even stronger parity regulations. These new rules should explicitly integrate the robust transparency mandates from his executive orders. Imagine insurers compelled to publicly disclose complete non-quantitative treatment limitations analyses in a standardized format, showing how they apply limitations to mental health benefits compared to physical health benefits. This data must include clear metrics on network adequacy, directly comparing in-network mental health specialists to medical specialists, alongside detailed reimbursement rates. Furthermore, crucial data on claim denial rates, prior authorization timelines and out-of-network use for mental versus medical services must be readily accessible and regularly updated for public scrutiny. By leveraging the president's championed transparency, he can create a largely self-enforcing parity framework. Public exposure of discrimination will pressure insurers to comply with the law's spirit and letter, reducing future need for costly government enforcement. It empowers consumers, employers and researchers to hold insurers accountable. This approach is about fiscal responsibility and public health. Untreated mental illness cost our nation hundreds of billions annually (some estimates approach nearly $477.5 billion in 2024) in lost productivity, increased health care spending and criminal justice involvement. Ensuring access to care is an investment yielding healthier families, productive communities and a stronger nation. The pause on the 2024 Parity Final Rule, while concerning, can be a strategic reset — an opportunity for decisive leadership, making President Trump's transparency agenda the engine for true mental health parity. While agencies were tasked by EO 14221 to act by late May on transparency enforcement, the president's direct intervention now can ensure transparency and parity move forward together. President Trump has often spoken of tackling the overdose crisis and national health challenges. True mental health and addiction parity is central to that mission. It means a treatable brain illness faces no greater barriers than a treatable body illness. The president should build on his health care transparency legacy and deliver a transformative victory for millions. Trump must seize this moment to champion a new era of accountability. Ensure 'Make America Healthy Again' unequivocally includes the mind. The lives of countless Americans hang in the balance. Ryan Hampton is a national addiction recovery advocate and author of two bestselling books on the overdose crisis: 'American Fix' and 'Unsettled.' His latest book is 'Fentanyl Nation.'
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
States agree to $7.4 billion settlement with Purdue Pharma in opioid litigation
All 50 states as well as Washington, D.C., and four U.S. territories have agreed to sign a $7.4 billion settlement with the company and once-prominent family behind OxyContin, officials announced Monday. The settlement resolves pending litigation against Purdue Pharma, which, under the leadership of the Sackler families, invented, manufactured and aggressively marketed opioid products for decades, according to the lawsuits. States and cities across the country said it fueled waves of addiction and overdose deaths. The attorneys general in 55 states and territories have signed on to the historic settlement, which they said will end the Sacklers' ownership of Purdue and bar them from making, selling or marketing opioids in the U.S. MORE: Purdue Pharma, Sackler families boost contribution in opioid settlement to $7.4 billion California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia led the team that negotiated the settlement, which marks the largest of its kind involving the opioid crisis, officials said. "As Pennsylvania families and communities suffered during an unprecedented addiction crisis, Purdue and the Sacklers reaped the mammoth profits from their products," Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday said in a statement. "This monumental settlement achieves the top priority of getting as much money as quickly as possible to prevention, treatment, and recovery programs across the Commonwealth. My office will continue engagement with municipal leaders to ensure millions of dollars reach every corner of the state." Purdue introduced OxyContin, a brand name of oxycodone, in the 1990s and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2019 after the company was sued thousands of times. The U.S. Supreme Court overturned a prior settlement in June 2024 that would have awarded $6 billion to state and local governments. The Sacklers and Purdue subsequently boosted their settlement contribution to $7.4 billion. "Today's announcement of unanimous support among the states and territories is a critical milestone towards confirming a Plan of Reorganization that will provide billions of dollars to compensate victims, abate the opioid crisis, and deliver opioid use disorder and overdose rescue medicines that will save American lives," Purdue said in a statement on Monday. "We appreciate the extraordinarily hard work of the state attorneys general and our other creditors in getting us to this point, and we look forward to soliciting creditor votes on the Plan after the disclosure statement is approved." The $7.4 billion will support opioid addiction treatment, prevention and recovery programs over the next 15 years. A significant amount of the funds will be distributed in the first three years, with the Sacklers paying $1.5 billion and Purdue paying approximately $900 million in the first payment, followed by $500 million after one year, an additional $500 million after two years, and $400 million after three years. MORE: Supreme Court blocks Purdue Pharma opioid settlement that shields Sackler family of liability 'There will never be enough justice, accountability or money to restore the families whose lives have been wrecked or to right the terrible consequences of the Sackler family's craven misconduct," Connecticut Attorney General William Tong said in a statement on Monday. "What we announce today is both momentous and insufficient, the culmination of years of tumultuous negotiations and legal battles all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court." Now that the state sign-on period has ended, local governments across the country will be asked to join the settlement, contingent on bankruptcy court approval. A hearing on that matter is scheduled on Wednesday. A board of trustees selected by participating states in consultation with other creditors will determine the future of Purdue, which will continue to be overseen by a monitor and will be prevented from lobbying or marketing opioids. ABC News' Aaron Katersky contributed to this report. States agree to $7.4 billion settlement with Purdue Pharma in opioid litigation originally appeared on
