<<Suggested-URL:    http://cbshealthwatch.medscape.com/cx/viewarticle/404613
>>

 Quote from the article:

"The AHA diet lowers the cholesterol, but it can also decrease the HDL
levels, too, and it can increase triglycerides. So we wanted to find out
whether by adding pecans we could correct those bad fats."

I don't know whether I should find this ammusing, or pathetic! Legions of
studies point to the HDL/Triglyceride numbers being far more important to
heart health than the total cholesterol number. Yet the AHA continues to push
a diet that negatively affects lipid values, and then says, "Well, now that
you've followed our advice and made your lipid levels worse, make sure you
eat pecans to try to offset the damage done!"

Of course nuts are a healthy dietary component; it's the rest of the AHA
recommendations that must be called into question.

Maddy Mason
Hudson Valley, NY