"May 10, 2010 -- 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."
http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/news/20100510/eating-nuts-daily-lowers-cholesterol