Nuts do you good!

One day last week I read in Fitness that walnuts have nearly double the disease fighting antioxidants of almonds, peanuts, pistachios or pecans, so snack smarter is their advice. Then the very next day I read in Taste of Home...this just in...turns out pecans contain more antioxidants than walnuts. Really?!

What I do know is nuts are one of the best plant sources of protein. They are rich in fiber, phytonutrients and antioxidants such as Vitamin E and selenium. Nuts are also high in plant sterols and fat - but mostly monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats (omega 3 - the good fats) which have all been shown to lower LDL cholesterol.

But don't limit yourself to just nuts. In addition to nuts, seeds such as flax seeds, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds also offer health benefits. Again moderation is the key - limit your intake to 1 to 2 oz of unsalted nuts per day.