by Kelley Herring
Healthy oils, nuts and seeds aren't just pleasing to the palette. They can also protect your heart.
Research conducted at the State University of New York found that consuming a moderate fat diet providing monounsaturated fatty acids offers more benefits to the heart than a diet low in fat.
In this study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, subjects were separated into two groups for weight loss - low fat and moderate fat. The people following the moderate fat diet not only lost weight, but also reduced their triglycerides and LDL or "bad cholesterol"HDL cholesterol. while maintaining levels of heart healthy
Those in the low fat group lost the weight, too, but their triglycerides rebounded and their HDL levels sank at the end of the study.
Enjoy healthy fats in moderation and variation, stocking your pantry with walnuts, pistachios, almonds, cold-pressed oils, seeds and decadent avocados. And try these nutty recipes.