Nut Consumption and Blood Lipid Levels

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Abstract
Dietary interventions to lower blood cholesterol concentrations and to modify blood lipoprotein levels are the cornerstone of prevention and treatment plans for coronary heart disease (CHD).1 Recently, consumption of nuts has been the focus of intense research because of their potential to reduce CHD risk and to lower blood lipid levels based on their unique nutritional attributes.2,3 Nuts are a nutrient-dense food rich in plant protein (10%-25%) and fat (50%-75%), mostly unsaturated fatty acids.2-4 They are a rich source of additional nutrients, dietary fiber, minerals (eg, copper, magnesium, and potassium), vitamins (eg, folic acid, niacin, vitamin E, and vitamin B6), and other bioactive constituents such as phenolic antioxidants and phytosterols.2-4