the fda recommends that consumption of 1. 5 ounces of nuts per day may reduce cardiovascular risk. aside from the fatty acid composition of nuts other components such as arginine plant sterols and phenolic components may play a favorable role in the lowering of lipid levels for those who eat nuts as a regular part of their diet. walnuts and almonds have been most comprehensively studied. . one must always remember that these studies are far too small to establish any guidelines and there certainly is not one ounce of outcome data regarding the effect on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. the american dietetic association evidence library concludes that "consumption of 50-113 grams (1/2 cup to 1 cup) of nuts daily with a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol decreased total cholesterol by 4-21% and ldl-c by 6-29% when weight was not gained. " however we have to remember that a diet rich in nuts is a heavy caloric load and may lead to weight gain. i recommend somewhat smaller portions of nuts as part of a healthful diet.
can nuts help lower cholesterol?