KING OF NUTS Walnut tops health chart, can help lower cholesterol: Study

London: It's official now: Walnuts are the healthiest nuts to eat. Scientists have discovered that walnuts are loaded with antioxidants and snacking on as few as seven a day could help ward off disease and lower cholesterol.      They found that walnuts contain very high levels of polyphenol, an anti-oxidant which can protect the body from molecules which damage tissue.      Tests carried out on nine commonly eaten types of nuts showed that walnuts contained the most polyphenol than others.      Brazil nuts and pistachios were close behind, and cashews and hazelnuts had slightly lower levels of antioxidants, said the researchers from the University of Scranton, Pennsylvania. "Walnuts rank above Brazil nuts, pistachios, pecans, peanuts, almonds, macadamias, cashews and hazelnuts," Joe Vinson, who led the study. PTI