Go Nuts

Turns out it might not be an apple a day that keeps the doc away: A new study in the Journal of Nutrition reports that eating a handful of nuts five or more times a week can reduce your risk of developing heart disease. Reach for almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, macadamia nuts, and walnuts, says Sari Greaves, RD, a nutritionist in Bedminster, New Jersey. These are packed with monounsaturated fatty acids that raise HDL (good cholesterol) while lowering LDL (bad cholesterol). “Like a broom, these fats help HDL sweep the cholesterol buildup to the liver for excretion,” says Greaves. To reap their heart-healthy benefits, snack on these nuts or sprinkle them in salads and stir-fries.