More good news about nuts
We know that plant sterols are a safe, natural way to lower cholesterol. And we had a vague idea of which foods were good sterol sources. But now, thanks to the first comprehensive analysis of its kind, we know just which foods are the best sources of this natural lipid-lowerer.
Scientists at Virginia Polytechnic analyzed 27 different kinds of foods believed to contain sterols, and ranked them by sterol content. Sesame seeds and wheat germ came out on top, followed by pistachios and sunflower seeds. Pumpkin seeds, pine nuts, almonds, macadamia nuts, black walnuts, pecans, cashews, peanuts and hazelnuts rounded out the list.
It isn't easy to incorporate a meaningful amount of sesame seeds into your diet (and no, the sesame seed bun doesn't negate the cholesterol in those two all beef patties). But it's easy to add wheat germ to your hot or cold cereal or yogurt. And pumpkin seeds and pistachios, or any kind of nut, make a great snack. For my own mid-morning and late afternoon snacks, I enjoy a handful of nuts, a few raisins or dried figs and a big glass of water. In addition to those cholesterol-fighting sterols, you'll get lots of good fiber, vitamins and minerals.
