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Nuts to You!

Many people avoid eating nuts because of their high caloric and fat content. The problem is, if you’re like most people, once you start eating them, you often can’t stop! But if you can exercise some self-control …the health benefits you derive from eating nuts may be well worth the effort!

How do nuts keep you healthy? Here are just a few of the ways:

• Those who eat nuts on a daily basis are less likely to have a heart attack
  
  
• Eating nuts lowers the risk of stroke and developing type 2 diabetes, advanced macular degeneration (a disease of the eye), dementia and gallstones
  
  
• Those who eat nuts regularly add two years to their expected life expectancy
  
  
• Nuts have relatively high levels of unsaturated fats and low levels of saturated fats which lower cholesterol levels and therefore, lowers your risk for heart disease
  
  
• Nuts are rich in fiber, antioxidants and trace minerals

Studies show that eating one to two ounces of nuts each day provides the maximum benefit. What nuts are best? Experts suggest that almonds, peanuts, pine nuts, walnuts, pecans and hazelnuts seem to have the greatest heart-health benefits.

Many fear the weight-gain effects of nut consumption, but studies also show that those who eat nuts are usually a bit thinner than those who rarely eat them. In fact, there is even a diet, detailed in a book written by Holly McCord, titled The Peanut Butter Diet, touted as a great way to slim down while eating something that tastes great. (Sounds like a nutty idea!)

So add some nuts to your daily diet--unless of course you're one of the growing number of people allergic to nuts!