that's nuts!

Here's one more study showing a non-pharmaceutical way to lower cholesterol: When a group of people consumed 20% of their caloric intake in pistachio nuts for three weeks, their total cholesterol levels improved, their HDL levels increased by a remarkable 26% and their triglyceride levels dropped.

I can't imagine eating such a large amount of nuts for that long, but this study is a reminder that including nuts in your diet is a great way to help maintain health. Nuts are an excellent snack, and almonds and walnuts have been shown to be particularly heart-healthy. I recommend keeping a little sack o' nuts at your desk at work to snack on rather than reaching for chips or other less desireable choices.