Eat Nuts

I love nuts. Especially: almonds, peanuts and pistachios. I have just read this: a new study that was conducted by Joan Sabaté, MD, DrPH and others from the Loma Linda University in California has found that eating nuts every day can lower cholesterol levels in the blood and help to prevent heart disease. And from the BBC: eating nuts may help lower cholesterol levels, US research suggests.

The review of 25 studies, involving nearly 600 people, showed eating on average 67g of nuts - a small bag - a day reduced cholesterol levels by 7.4%.

The Los Angeles Times is rather reserved with the heading:  A look at the 'nuts can lower cholesterol' claim. But from one of the most authoritative sites on the Web - WebMD, there is no doubt that nuts are beneficial to health:

Eating nuts on a daily basis improves blood cholesterol levels and reduces the risk of coronary heart disease, a new study says.

Joan Sabaté, MD, DrPH, and colleagues from Loma Linda University in California, pooled data from 25 studies on nut consumption in seven countries, looking at 583 men and women with various cholesterol levels. None was on cholesterol-lowering medications. Nuts evaluated included almonds, hazelnuts, pecans, pistachios, walnuts, macadamia nuts, and peanuts.

Patients in the trials ate an average of 67 grams, or about 2.4 ounces, of nuts daily.

This dietary practice resulted in an average 5.1% reduction in total cholesterol concentration, a 7.4% reduction in LDL or bad cholesterol, and an 8.3% reduction in the ratio of LDL to HDL (“good” cholesterol) levels.

In addition, triglyceride measurements declined by 10.2%, but only among people with initially elevated triglyceride readings. The cholesterol effects of nut consumption were similar in men and women, and were dose related. 

HealthyMuslim has more on nuts. Whatever might be said, I find nuts tasteful and refreshing.