Just a handful of cashews could cut your risk for heart disease, cancer and premature death.
A new study by Imperial College London found that people who ate at least 20 grams of nuts daily lowered their chances for heart disease by 30 percent, cancer by 15 percent and premature death by 22 percent.
Researchers combed through data from 29 studies that involved more than 800,000 participants.
“Nuts and peanuts are high in fiber, magnesium and polyunsaturated fats — nutrients that are beneficial for cutting cardiovascular disease risk and which can reduce cholesterol levels,” the study’s co-author Dagfinn Aune, told the Telegraph. “Some nuts, particularly walnuts and pecans are also high in anti-oxidants, which can fight oxidative stress and possibly reduce cancer risk.”
But this doesn’t mean you should start stuffing your face with pistachios. The study also found that there was no added health benefit by eating more than 20 grams of nuts daily.