A paper published in the Dec. 2008 issue of Current Atherosclerosis Reports says "incorporating nuts into the diets of more people may lead to a variety of cardiovascular benefits"

In the paper, Nash S. D. and Nash D. T. from SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York say nuts are rich in monounsaturated fatty acids and fiber and have been linked to decreased risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

They say that numerous studies showed nuts favorably affect serum lipids and exhibit also nonlipid benefits such as improved weight management, greater insulin sensitivity and favorable endothelial effects. They even showed anti-inflammatory properties.