Cholesterol. “You know it’s bad for your heart and arteries. But you could make it less bad with this crunchy favorite: almonds. Turns out almonds not only improve cholesterol levels but also help make LDL — the bad cholesterol — less likely to oxidize. Which is great, because LDL can do scary things when it’s oxidized, like block arteries and cut blood flow to the heart. Because oxidized LDL is even more likely to gunk-up your arteries than the unoxidized kind, recent study results on almonds and LDL oxidation helped secure the nut’s position in a heart-healthy diet. When older adults with high cholesterol ate a daily handful of almonds as part of a 4-week cholesterol-friendly diet, not only did the nut eaters suffer less bad-for-the-arteries LDL oxidation, but their LDL levels took a nosedive as well. Other good news for the almond eaters: The study subjects’ healthy (HDL) cholesterol rose. How do almonds do it? Researchers suspect that the vast array of flavonoids and phenols in the skins play a role — so be sure to buy whole almonds with the skins on. Those skin-based nutrients may react synergistically with other antioxidants in your body to produce the cholesterol-controlling effects.” (Journal of Nutrition 2008 May;138(5):908-913.) “It should be remembered, too, that some nuts are not so wholesome as others. Almonds are preferable to peanuts, but peanuts in limited quantities, used in connection with grains, are nourishing and digestible.” (MH 298) So for better health eat almond on a regular basis!