Common nut emerges as standout for lowering 'bad' cholesterol in 25-year review

A simple handful of pecans each day could deliver heart-health benefits, a new study found.

The research, done by the Illinois Institute of Technology and published in the journal Nutrients, analyzed more than 20 years of studies exploring how pecans affect heart and metabolic health. The study was a review of existing research, not a new clinical trial, and examined 52 studies conducted between 2000 and 2025, including trials involving human participants.

The most consistent findings related to cholesterol.