Avocado Consumption and Immune Response: A Review on Ethiopian Context Gargi Dhar1,2,* 1Assistant Professor, Department of Reproductive Health and Nutrition, Wolaita Sodo University, Ethiopia 2Academic Counsellor, IGNOU, India *Corresponding author: Gargi Dhar, Assistant Professor, Department of Reproductive Health and Nutrition, School of Public Health. College of Health Science and Medicine. Wolaita Sodo University, PO Box 138, SNNPR, Ethiopia.
Online published on 13 November, 2019. Abstract This article is talking about avocado in terms of varieties, nutritional fact, scientific evidences of immune response of avocado and its nutrients with special emphasis on Ethiopian situation. According to the United States Department of Agriculture National Nutrient Database; avocados contain carbohydrate, protein, mono unsaturated fatty acids, dietary fiber, minerals and vitamins. Early published literature showed that avocado can boost up immune systems, having antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potency. Avocados are available throughout the year in Ethiopia, but price, quality and accessibility may vary. Ethiopians, irrespective of age, sex and social class are fond of eating avocados. Based on Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, USA data; immuno-deficiency diseases have been enlisted within the top five leading causes of death in Ethiopia, 2017. Malnutrition and dietary practice have been identified within top five mortality related behavioural risk list. Considering this information, Ethiopia has to search any low cost food based dietary approach, which can support to handle immunity mediated disease burden with the limited resources and health service implementation challenges. In this respect, avocado can be considered for its nutritional value and It's availability, accessibility and affordability issue. Unfortunately, there is no published data available related to avocado consumption and health benefits specially immune response in Ethiopian context. Along with in depth research on nutritional characteristics of avocado; exploration and attention are required on avocado farming and processing technology, awareness creation on “what-when-how” to consume food and multi sectoral coordination between Government, Non-Governmental organisation and other stakeholders. Top Keywords Avocado, Immune response, Ethiopia. Top |