Need a snack? Go nuts! By Mayo Clinic Staff

Eating nuts as part of a healthy diet can be good for your heart. They may lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or 'bad') cholesterol levels. Eating nuts may reduce the risk of developing blood clots that can lead to a heart attack. Try a small handful of nuts every day. Walnuts are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Almonds, macadamia nuts, hazelnuts and pecans also are very heart healthy. Even peanuts, which are technically not a nut, but a legume, can be good for you. Of course, choosing nuts coated in sugar or salt may cancel out their heart-healthy benefits.



