Study: Eating Nuts Can Help Lower Cholesterol Levels

Individuals who are suffering from high blood pressure may want to consider supplementing their diet with a moderate amount of nuts, according to a recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

For the research, a team of investigators collected data from 25 separate trials that were designed to investigate the health benefits linked to nut consumption. After analyzing the serum levels of 583 men and women, the researchers found that participants who consumed an average of 2.4 ounces of various nuts each day experienced a 5.1 percent total cholesterol concentration reduction.

When looking closer, lead author Joan Sabate discovered that individuals who added nuts to their diet for an extended period of time reduced their low-density lipoprotein levels—or bad cholesterol—by an average of 7.4 percent.

"Nuts are a food that has been consumed by humans throughout history," said Sabate. "Increasing the consumption of nuts as part of an otherwise prudent diet can be expected to favorably affect blood lipid levels and have the potential to lower coronary heart disease risk."