"Pistachio amounts of 1.5 ounces and three ounces (per day) - one to two handfuls - reduced risk for cardiovascular disease by significantly reducing LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels, and the higher dose significantly reducing lipoprotein ratios," study author Sarah K. Gebauer, a graduate student in integrative biosciences at Penn State, said in a prepared statement.

The multi-week study, which received funding from the California Pistachio Commission , concluded that three ounces of pistachios a day reduced LDL levels by 11.6 percent, total cholesterol levels by 8.4 percent, and non-high density lipoproteins (non-HDL) by 11.2 percent. Levels of non-HDL are considered reliable predictors of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.

The researchers also said that a handful of pistachios provide the same antioxidants found in dark, leafy vegetables and brightly-coloured fruit.

"Our study has shown that pistachios, eaten with a healthy heart diet, may decrease a person's CVD risk profile," primary investigator Dr Penny Kris-Etherton, distinguished professor of nutrition at Penn State, said in a prepared statement. – (HealthDayNews)