The Mayo Clinic Diet Book, learn more

Free

E-newsletter

Subscribe to Housecall

Our weekly general interest
e-newsletter keeps you up to date on a wide variety of health topics.

Sign up now

Need a snack? Go nuts!

By Mayo Clinic staff

Nuts can be good for your heart. They may lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or 'bad,' cholesterol levels. Eating nuts may reduce the risk of developing blood clots that can lead to a heart attack. Try a small handful of nuts every day. Walnuts are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Almonds, macadamia nuts, hazelnuts and pecans also are very heart healthy. Even peanuts, which are technically not a nut, but a legume, can be good for you. Of course, choosing nuts coated in chocolate, sugar or salt may cancel out their heart-healthy benefits.

HT00044 May 19, 2011

© 1998-2013 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "EmbodyHealth," "Enhance your life," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

  • Print
  • Share on:

  • Email

Advertisement


Text Size: smaller largerlarger