Contrary to conventional knowledge that nuts are unhealthy because they are rich in fats, nuts can actually be good for helping you achieve a better cholesterol (and cardiovascular) profile.

Nuts have been found to contain significant levels of plant sterols, which actually help lower “bad cholesterol” (i.e. LDL cholesterol). For example, some researchers in Canada found that when people with high levels of unhealthy cholesterol ate 1.8g of plant sterols daily, their unhealthy cholesterol levels dropped by 8%.

Researchers at Tufts University in Boston have found that the skin of almond seeds contain high levels of antioxidants that can help to remove LDL cholesterol from your body.

Another nut which deserves mention is the coconut. By some unfortunate twist of fate, this healthy nut has acquired a bad reputation for containing high levels of saturated fats. While it is true that coconut contains more saturated fats than butter does, the types of saturated fats that coconut contains (more than half is lauric acid) actually help boost “good cholesterol” (i.e. HDL cholesterol) more than the unhealthy LDL. This means that ultimately, the coconut is good for your overall cholesterol profile.

So if you want to lower your unhealthy cholesterol naturally without the use of potentially harmful pharmaceutical drugs, then nuts are what you can eat as healthy snacks.

But I must remind you, first and foremost, an important thing you have to do is to cut down on your intake of simple sugars and carbohydrates, for these are a major source of unhealthy fats in your body.

More on the foods and dietary supplementation that can help you in your battle against unhealthy cholesterol in my next entry!

References
[1] Yeager, Selene, et al. The Doctors Book of Food Remedies. New York, NY: Rodale, 2007. Print.

Cindy L. TJOL is trained in Psychology, Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine. She has several years of experience writing on natural health on the internet. Follow her on her blog and read her other articles at Insights On Health.com.