Eating avocados may be associated with a better diet and better all-around health, a new study has found.

Data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey published in the January issue of Nutrition Journal found that people who ate avocados had higher intakes of important nutrients -- including dietary fibre, vitamin E, magnesium and potassium -- than people who didn't eat avocados.

Avocado eaters also had lower Body Mass Index values and smaller waist circumferences than those who did not eat avocados.

"These findings suggest an interesting association between the consumption of avocados and better nutrient intakes and other positive outcomes," study lead author Victor Fulgoni said in a release.

"These observations were derived from population survey data. They provide important clues to better understanding the relationships between diet and health, and give direction to future research endeavours."

The study was based on data from 17,567 adults, 347 of whom were avocado eaters.