Albert did not ask the doctors what kind of nuts they ate or how many and pointed out that nuts can also be high in unhealthy saturated fats. But the numbers also clearly showed that the doctors who ate the most nuts had the lowest heart death rates. You probably think they're fattening. Nuts can be fattening if you eat too many or if you add them to your diet rather than substitute them for something else. But eaten in moderation, nuts can be part of a healthful diet.
Nuts are also rich in different plant compounds.
Flavonoids, for instance, are found in all nuts. These antioxidants help reduce the formation of substances in the body that may contribute to cancer and cardiovascular disease. Because nuts are a plant food, they are naturally cholesterol-free, the health letter pointed out. Most of the fat in nuts is monounsaturated and polyunsaturated. In small amounts, such fats may lower cholesterol.