In Pennsylvania, eating almonds on a regular basis may help boost levels of HDL cholesterol while simultaneously improving the way it removes cholesterol from the body. The researchers found that compared to the control diet, the almond diet increased α-1 HDL by 19 percent and improved HDL function by 6.4 percent.
Penny Kris-Etherton, distinguished professor of nutrition at Penn State, said, “There’s a lot of research out there that shows a diet that includes almonds lowers low-density lipoprotein, or LDL cholesterol, which is a major risk factor for heart disease,” Kris-Etherton said. “But not as much was known about how almonds affect HDL cholesterol, which is considered good cholesterol and helps lower your risk of heart disease.”
Kris-Etherton said that while almonds will not eliminate the risk of heart disease, they may be a smart choice for a healthy snack, providing a dose of good fats, vitamin E and fiber.