NUTS LOWER RISK OF HEART DISEASE
A helping of nuts a day keeps heart attacks at bay, according to investigators at Penn State University. Dr. Penny Kris-Etherton and her colleagues reviewed 16 studies and found that the risk of coronary artery disease is 25% to 39% lower in people who eat one ounce of nuts or nut butters four or five times a week than
in people whose diets aren't nutty.
The effect seemed to hold for all kinds of nuts, including almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, pecans, and walnuts, as well as peanuts. Nuts seem to lower blood cholesterol, but also contain protein, fiber, vitamins, and other bioactive substances that could improve health, Dr. Kris-Etherton said. To compensate for the additional calories, she recommended that people add slivered almonds or walnuts to vegetables or a salad, and cut back on the dressing or butter,
or put peanut butter on a bagel rather than cream cheese.