There is another reason besides flavor and crunch for nut lovers to eat nuts: they are heart healthy. In July 2003, the Food and Drug Administration approved a qualified health claim that states, "Scientific evidence suggests, but does not prove that eating 1.5 ounces per day of most nuts, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease." This approval (www.cfsan.fda.gov/～dms/qhcnuts2.html) was in response to a petition filed by the International Tree Nut Council's Nutrition Research and Education Foundation. The qualified heart health claim is based on several studies showing that people who eat nuts regularly cut their risk of heart disease, sometimes by as much as half. Other studies have shown that consuming 1-3 oz/day of some nuts can lower elevated blood cholesterol, as well as other substances in the blood that have been linked to heart disease. Nuts' high monounsaturated and polyunsatu-rated fatty acid content is one reason for their heart-health benefits. The qualified health claim does not include all nuts, because some have higher levels of saturated fat. Here's a rundown of the nuts included in the claim―almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts, pecans, pistachios, and walnuts―and some of their reported health benefits.
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