April 22

New studies show higher monounsaturated fat diets, that include peanut butter, peanuts and mixed nuts, can reduce the risk of heart disease and help people lose weight.  Harvard researchers found that three times as many people can maintain weight loss through the so-called "Mediterranean style" diet.

Penny Kris-Etherton, distinguished professor of nutrition at Pennsylvania State University, found that a weight loss diet high in monounsaturated fat provided by peanuts and peanut butter not only lowered cholesterol but also helped subjects lose weight.

Subjects on both a low-fat (fewer than 20% of calories from fat) and a higher fat (35% of calories from fat which was mainly monounsaturated) diet lost an average of 2 pounds per week.  Both diets lowered total and LDL cholesterol, known risk factors for cardiovascular disease.