Research

Macro partitioning

Replacing carbohydrates or saturated fats with monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) significantly increases HDL-cholesterol and decreases triacylglycerols in healthy subjects.

To improve your HDL cholesterol and lower triglycerides, consider replacing some carbohydrates or saturated fats in your diet with monounsaturated fats (like olive oil, avocados, or nuts). Ensure you keep your total calorie intake the same (isoenergetic) so you aren't just adding fat on top of your current diet.

GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
Several studies indicated an increase of HDL-cholesterol and a corresponding decrease in triacylglycerols following a MUFA-rich diet.
Lukas Schwingshackl et al. · Nutrients · 2012

Why this rating

Based on multiple meta-analyses of RCTs (Clarke et al., Mensink et al.) showing consistent results.

Source

Monounsaturated Fatty Acids and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: Synopsis of the Evidence Available from Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses

Lukas Schwingshackl et al. · Nutrients · 2012

Meta-analysis · 16 studiesCited 288×
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