Nuts About Nuts! Pistachios Lower Cholesterol

I always knew nuts were good for you...but thanks to a new study, the case for nuts is growing stronger.

A new study gives us all new reasons to be nuts about nuts! A new study out of Penn State university has found that pistachios lower cholesterol and a chocked full of the same antioxidants usually found in green leafy vegetables and some fruits.

"Pistachio amounts of 1.5 ounces and 3 ounces -- one to two handfuls -- reduced risk for cardiovascular disease by significantly reducing LDL cholesterol levels and the higher dose significantly reduced lipoprotein ratios," said graduate student Sarah Gebauer. Researches studied participants who were given the nuts as part of their diets in their original form as well as in muffins, granola and pistachio pesto. (Who ever knew you could do so much with a nut. This is nuts!) The grad students' discoveries were presented at the Experimental Biology 2007 conference in Washington on Monday.