On the contrary studies show that nuts can help lower total and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and possibly increase HDL (“good”) cholesterol – and may reduce the risk of heart disease. The fat in food is a mix of monounsaturated, polyunsaturated and saturated fatty acids. Foods with high proportion of unsaturated fats (like nuts, vegetable oils and fish) are considered heart-healthy because they lower blood cholesterol, while those high in saturated fat (like butter, cheese and meat) raise cholesterol. 30 gm’s of peanuts, for example, contains 14 grams of fat, only 2 of which are – not a lot. Keep in mind, also , that while you should limit saturated fat, you can’t avoid it, unless you eat only nonfat foods. The problem with nuts is not their small amounts of saturated fat, but their high calories. One serving, i.e., 30 gm’s has 160 to 200 calories. Eat too many and you’ll gain weight, which can raise your cholesterol.

Tagged under:calories cholesterol gain weight heart disease heart healthy Nutrition nuts peanuts saturated fat saturated fatty acids vegetable oils

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