Family Life

05.11.10 | FL News Team

Consumption of nuts has been associated with improvements in blood cholesterol levels. Researchers at Loma Linda University in California gathered data from 25 nut consumption trials conducted in seven countries, involving men and women with both high and normal cholesterol levels. People involved in the trials, consumed roughly two-and-a-half-ounces of nuts per day. The result was an average five-point-one-percent reduction in total cholesterol concentration and a more than seven-percent reduction in LDL, or "bad" cholesterol. There was also a more than eight-percent change in the amount of HDL or "good" cholesterol.

Study authors say different types of nuts had similar effects. They also note "the effects of nut consumption were significantly modified by body mass index and diet type." They found the cholesterol-lowering effects of nut consumption were greatest among people with a low body mass index and those consuming a so-called "Western" diet, which is high in fat and sugar. The trial data is reported in the May 10th issue of "Archives of Internal Medicine."