WALNUTS -- helpful in lowering Cholesterol

Walnuts have shown to be having cholesterol lowering effect. Cholesterol-related heart diseases may be reduced by partially substituting walnuts for olive oil as part of a low-fat diet rich in fish, fruits and vegetables. This was observed by researchers who studied middle-aged and elderly people.

The study of 49 people, funded by the California Walnut Commission, found that cholesterol levels were significantly lowered in a group that ate walnuts - rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids - instead of foods high in monounsaturated fat during a six-week period.

The findings, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine by scientists from the University of Barcelona in Spain and Loma Linda University in California, stated that total cholesterol levels for the walnut-eating group fell 4.1 percent more than those on regular diet rich in fish and vegetabales.

People with high cholesterol should stick to a plant-based, vegetarian, healthy diet, and include walnuts and olive oil. Be careful, these are high-fat foods, you should not be havinig them in excess.