“Nuts used to be something people felt guilty about eating because they’re high in fat,” says nutritionist Gigi Acker, MPH, RD, of NutritionInsights in Los Altos, Calif. “But not all fat is bad. Healthy monounsaturated fats, like those found in nuts, actually reduce the risk of heart attack.”

The recent Nurses Health Study found that nurses who ate nuts five times a week had less heart disease and on average were thinner compared with those who did not eat nuts. And a study published in the April 2002 Journal of Nutrition had people replace half the fat in their daily diets with almonds for six weeks. Researchers found that the almond eaters’ LDL (bad) cholesterol went down 6 percent, and HDL (good) cholesterol went up 6 percent. In addition, their triglycerides (blood fat) dropped 14 percent. These studies and others indicate it’s the combination in nuts of monounsaturated fats and protective plant compounds known as flavonoids that reduces the risk of heart disease.

In addition to their heart-healthy benefits, nuts make a great snack because they provide protein, fiber and fat. That combination makes them satisfying -- they fill you up and have staying power, notes Acker. Mojo Bars, a new savory snack option, incorporate the advantages of nuts. Available in five different flavors, each bar contains a half ounce of nuts. “When the snack urge hits, Mojo Bars are a great choice,” says Acker.

She recommends enjoying an ounce of nuts (1/8 of a cup) every day. But, she cautions, you can’t simply add nuts to your daily diet. Instead, you should substitute nuts for less healthy fat from chips, cookies, crackers and cheese. In addition to simply eating them out of hand, there are many flavorful ways to include nuts in your diet. Here are some of Acker’s favorites:

Almonds

• Sprinkle toasted almonds over your low fat cereal in the morning or slice toasted almonds on a salad.
• Keep a Honey BBQ Almond Mojo Bar in your desk, backpack or car for a quick, healthy snack. This delicious, first-of-its-kind savory snack bar is convenient and tastes great.

Peanuts

• For a fresh twist on an old standby, try a peanut butter with fresh fruit sandwich.
• Add peanuts to Indian food like curried rice dishes.
• Drizzle peanut sauce over grilled chicken or tofu.
• Make your own trail mix -- peanuts, raisins and chocolate chips.

Cashews

• Sprinkle a few cashews on chicken salad or in Chinese stir-fry dishes.
• Try cashew butter -- use it as a bagel spread instead of cream cheese, which has no protein and lots of fat.
• Add an ounce of cashews to your granola.

Walnuts

• Top your salad with toasted walnuts and a little blue cheese.
• Bake cookies and breads with walnuts.

If you buy raw nuts, simply toast them in a dry skillet over medium heat until you start smelling their wonderful aroma. Be sure to store them properly. “All nuts should be stored in the refrigerator so they stay fresh longer,” notes Acker.

So go ahead and make nuts a part of your healthy eating plan, along with fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains. And don’t forget moderate amounts of exercise as part of that package as well.

For more information on Mojo Bars, visit Clifmojo. You can find Mojo Bars in natural food stores, outdoor stores and selected grocery stores.

Courtesy of ARA Content

EDITOR’S NOTE: For more information, call Dean Mayer, communications manager, Clif Bar Inc., (510) 558-7855, Ext. 130 or Gigi Acker, NutritionInsights, (650) 303-8199.