If you thought that the answer was peanuts, you’re nuts!
*pauses for legume laughter*
Nothing?
*sighs*
There are two types of cholesterol to always keep in mind, which, when combined, compose the bodies total cholesterol. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is the so-called “bad cholesterol,” while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) is the so-called “good cholesterol.” And if you eat almonds, your HDL rises, and LDL drops.
A new study from Penn State took 48 men and women with high levels of LDL cholesterol, then put them on two different six-week diets. The daily diets would be identical save for one snack; one group would eat a banana muffin, while one group would eat 43 grams of almonds.
At the end of the study, the group that consumed almonds instead of the muffin had observably higher HDL levels, and in turn, lower LDL levels.
The reason why “good cholesterol” is so good, is because the higher it is, the lower the “bad cholesterol” is. HDL cholesterol, according to the CDC “absorbs cholesterol and carries it back to the liver, which flushes it from the body,” and can help “reduce the risk for heart disease and stroke.”
Pair your daily almonds with these other foods that naturally lower cholesterol, and you’ll be good to go. After all, you don’t need drugs to keep your LDL and HDL levels in check.
[Source: Philly Voice]
