Go Nuts to Lower Cholesterol
Reported May 13, 2010
(Ivanhoe Newswire) — Want to lower your cholesterol? New research shows that may be as simple as consuming more nuts.
Researchers from Loma Linda University in Calif. analyzed data from 25 nut consumption trials that were conducted in seven countries. These studies included 583 women and men with high or normal cholesterol levels. All participants were assigned to consume nuts, and none were taking cholesterol-lowering drugs.
Results showed those who consumed an average of 67 grams (about 2.4 ounces) of nuts a day had a 5.1- percent reduction in total cholesterol and a 7.4-percent reduction in LDL (bad) cholesterol. They also experienced a boost in HDL (good) cholesterol.
“Nuts are a whole food that have been consumed by humans throughout history,” study authors conclude. “Increasing the consumption of nuts as part of an otherwise prudent diet can be expected to favorably affect blood lipid levels and have the potential to lower coronary heart disease risk.”
SOURCE: Archives of Internal Medicine 2010; 170 [9]: 821-827