Vegan Loma Linda University Will Pay You to Eat Avocados for Research

Scientists at Loma Linda University, a Southern California-based health sciences school, are seeking participants to eat avocados every single day – and get paid for it.

Loma Linda University is looking for 250 people to help determine whether moderate consumption of avocados can aid weight loss.

For the past two decades, the school has conducted dietary intervention studies on plant-based foods and nuts. This latest study, according to researcher Joan Sabate, will test whether consuming one avocado every day decreases the visceral adipose fat found in the abdomen.

Participants will be asked to either eat one avocado per day for six months or eat two avocados per month for the same period, creating a control group. Certain requirements apply, including a minimum waist size – 40 inches for males and 35 inches for females. Precautions will also be taken, including an MRI and health screening, and monthly dietitian meetings.

In recent years, avocados have become an exceedingly popular fruit, not only for their smooth, creamy taste but also for their health benefits. Higher in potassium than bananas, avocados are also loaded with heart-healthy monounsaturated fatty acids and fiber.

Participants will also be paid $300 and the control group will be gifted with 24 avocados. The University of California LA, Penn State University, and Tufts University are also looking for 250 participants each, although it is unclear whether participants in these studies will be paid.

For those who may not fancy joining a study, it’s easy to get an avocado fix elsewhere. In addition to the fruit in its simplest form, In the U.S., Whole Foods is now stocking Cado, a vegan avocado-based ice cream. And, allowing you to slather avocado on just about anything, Paleo brand, Primal Kitchen, launched a vegan avocado oil based ranch dressing back in March.

Elsewhere in the world, Domino’s is using avocado as a topping on its plant-based pizzas in Australia, and in the UK, Cadbury descendant Love Cocoa recently debuted a vegan avocado dark chocolate block. Further, department store Selfridges also recently launched a vegan avocado gelato in its London location. The ice cream is proving popular, the luxury retailer says, as the store is serving 100 Avolatos every day.