Eat Nuts

Several large studies have shown that eating nuts frequently, especially almonds, walnuts, macadamias, and hazelnuts, decreases the risk of heart disease by 30 to 50 percent. Studies have shown that eating nuts reduces low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol or “bad” cholesterol, 8 percent to 12 percent, and reduces the buildup of plaque in blood vessels. Although all types of nuts lower cholesterol, a study at Penn State University found that pistachios were especially effective in lowering the amount of oxidized cholesterol, believed to be more deadly than simply elevated cholesterol, because it speeds up deposits of plaque in arteries. Because they are smaller than other nuts, you can eat more in one serving – 1.5 ounces of pistachios is about 60 nuts.