LDL cholesterol is known to block arteries and lead to heart disease, strokes and peripheral vascular disease. Dietary cholesterol, saturated fats and hydrogenated oil all increase the bad (LDL) cholesterol causing death and debility. What can you do other than eliminating the above mentioned articles?

A recent article reports one nut was beneficial in reducing LDL cholesterol. “A handful of pistachio nuts a day can help destroy bad cholesterol, ward off heart disease and prevent cancer, according to scientists writing in the Journal of Nutrition. The nuts are full of antioxidants that protect cells from damage by harmful chemicals, called “free radicals”. The findings follow previous research by the same team that discovered pistachios help destroy bad cholesterol that can lead to heart attacks and stroke.

The team found pistachios were much richer in the main dietary antioxidants lutein, beta-carotene and gamma-tocopherol than other nuts.” (Daily Telegraph, May 21, 2010) Even though pistachios were cited in this study, other nuts are beneficial in preventing heart disease. A study done at Loma Linda University showed that almonds, hazelnuts, pecans, pistachios, walnuts, macadamia nuts, and peanuts are also helpful. But nuts should be used moderately!“Many have written to me, ‘I cannot use the nut foods; what shall I use in the place of meat?’

One night I seemed to be standing before a company of people, telling them that nuts are used too freely in their preparation of nut foods, and that if they were used more sparingly the results would be more satisfactory; for the system cannot take care of them as combined in some recipes given.“ (KC 134.7)