Almonds reduce harmful abdominal fat

A handful of almonds a day could help to cut the chance of a heart attack and reduce harmful fat around your waist and legs.

A daily helping of just 42 grams dramatically improves cholesterol levels, an American study found.

The research, in the Journal of the American Heart Association, also found almonds reduce leg and abdominal fat — a well-established heart disease risk factor. For the study, 52 overweight, middle-aged adults were given a cholesterol-lowering diet.

One group was given a daily snack of almonds, while the other was given a banana muffin of the same number of calories.

The almond eaters showed improved cholesterol levels as well as reduced abdominal fat.