Daily snack of almonds could keep that heart attack at bay

A HANDFUL of almonds a day could help cut the chance of a heart attack.

New research reveals that snacking on only 1.5 ounces of the nuts dramatically improves cholesterol levels and reduces belly fat, a well established heart disease risk factor.

The research, in the Journal of the American Heart Association, also found almonds reduce leg fat.

Although it r emains t he number one cause of death worldwide, it is estimated that 80 per cent of premature deaths from cardiovascular disease could be avoided if diet and lifestyle risk factors were controlled.

For the study, 52 overweight, middle-aged adults were given a cholesterol-lowering diet. The trial group all had high cholest erol but were otherwise healthy.

One group was given a daily snack of almonds, while the other was given a banana muffin of the same number of calories.

The almond eaters showed significantly improved cholesterol levels.

And, despite no differences in body weight, the almond diet also reduced abdominal fat, waist circumference and leg fat.

Dr Claire Berryman, who led the research, said: ‘Our research found that substituting almonds for a high- carbohydrate snack i mproved numerous heart health risk factors, including the new finding that eating almonds reduced belly fat.

‘Choosing almonds as a snack may be a simple way to help fight the onset of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases.’

A one ounce serving of almonds provides 160 calories as well as protein, dietary fibre, ‘good’ unsaturated fats, and vitamins and minerals.