It can sometimes seem like the world is a little nuts, but that's not always a bad thing. Case in point: there is growing evidence showing that nuts can benefit for your cardiovascular health. I know, I know...a while was macadamia nuts, then it was pistachios, and now, well, now I'm going to mention the benefit of the rest of the lot.

Be it peanuts, Brazil nuts, cashews, walnuts or of course the two kinds I mentioned in earlier posts, nuts are clearly a healthy way to reduce cholesterol and reduce caloric consumption. A study, conducted in Spain, involved the survey of almost 9,000 people and their nut consumption and weight. Twenty-eight months later, a follow-up survey was held -- showing that people who ate nuts at least twice a week were 30 percent less likely than non nut eaters to put on some extra poundage.

The reason behind this is that nuts contain good fats; providing the body with a sustainable energy source, and they also contain a fair amount of protein. Couple these factors with the feeling of overall fullness a person experiences after eating nuts (and therefore doesn't feel the need to reach for a bag of cookies), and you have found a good explanation for the lessened chance of weight loss in the study participants.