Abstract
Nuts have formed an important part of the human diet since ancient times. They are a source of
energy and provide a wide array of essential nutrients (Dreher et al. 1996, Salas-Salvado et al. 2011).
It has been known for many years that cardiovascular disease (CVD) rates are lower in vegetarians
and other health-conscious populations such as the Seventh Day Adventist and those who follow
a Mediterranean diet (Sabate 1999, Estruch et al. 2006). One of the key differences between these
diets and the typical Western diet is that nut consumption is twice as high (Sabate 1993, Dreher
et al. 1996).