Southern California

Green Gig: Get Paid to Eat Avocados

The rules might be strict for any Californian: you have to be wiling to either eat one avocado per day for six months or eat only two avocados per month for the same period.

What to Know

  • A study wants to find people to eat avocados for six months for science! They're trying to determine if avocados cut belly fat.
  • Big caveat: You will randomly be assigned whether you eat a boat-load of avocados or just two per month.
  • Participants get paid $300 at the end of the study.

Southern California avocado lovers: You may have found the most cost-effective way to eat the magical, traditionally pricey fruit and get paid to do it.

Loma Linda University is looking for people to eat avocados - in large quantities and small quantities - as part of a study, and they're paying participants.

LLU is looking for people to help them prove once and for all if avocados help with abdominal fat loss or not.

In the want ad, LLU said they're looking for as many as 250 avocado lovers to participate in the six-month trial.

Participants for the study must:

  1. Be 25 years of age or older
  2. Be willing to either eat one avocado per day for six months or eat only two avocados per month for the same period
  3. Men must measure at least 40 inches around the waist.
  4. Women must measure at least 35 inches around the waist.

So the big caveat, avocado aficionados: You will randomly be assigned whether you eat a boat-load of avocados or just two per month. 

"The test group will be given 16 avocados every two weeks and be required to eat one avocado per day throughout the six-month study. The control group will be required to eat no more than two avocados per month during the same period," the news release said.

You could either hit the avocado jackpot, or end up out of luck. 

The big bonus: Everyone will get paid $300 each at the end.

A few selected participants will need to undergo free MRI an health screenings, as well as attend a monthly appointment with a dietitian.

If you don't get in on LLU's study, UCLA is also recruiting avocado eaters. 

Penn State University and Tufts University in Massachusetts are also seeking participants, for a total of 1,000 people munching on avocados for the sake of science.

"LLU and three other American universities will evaluate the controversial idea in a randomized, six-month trial," the news release said.

The study, while being funded by the Hass Avocado Board, will not be swayed by its sponsorship, the news release promised. 

To enroll, check out this link.

If you have more questions, email HATstudy@llu.edu or call 909-558-8382.

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