A recent study confirmed the benefits of eating a handful of nuts daily, showing a significant reduction in risk of death from heart disease, cancer, or other causes.

NBC News reported, "And not only that, nuts seem to help keep the pounds off, the team at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and the Harvard School of Public Health found.

'The most obvious benefit was a reduction of 29 percent in deaths from heart disease — the major killer of people in America,' said Dr. Charles Fuchs of Dana-Farber, who led the team. 'But we also saw a significant reduction — 11 percent — in the risk of dying from cancer.'

Studies have found that people who eat nuts have all sorts of biological benefits: less inflammation, which is linked to heart disease and cancer; less fat packed around the internal organs; better blood sugar levels; lower blood pressure — and even fewer gallstones."

Nuts are great for a convenient snack or meal on the go. They provide a tasty package of healthy fat, protein, fiber, and other nutrients. The healthy fats will keep your energy level up and keep you satisfied longer than something made with grains (crackers, cereals, corn chips, etc.) Mix it up and enjoy a variety of different nuts in your diet to add years to your life or life to your years.

There's good news about store-bought meat just in time for Christmas. This may be one of the best gifts Santa could give us. Two recent changes in the regulation of how meat is raised and sold in the United States should help improve the quality of what we buy in the store.

Bye Bye Antibiotics

The Washington Post reports, "The vast majority of antibiotics sold each year in the United States — by some estimates as much as 80 percent — are used in agriculture rather than in human medicine... The [FDA] finalized recommendations asking animal drug manufacturers to voluntarily alter their labels so that farmers would no longer be allowed to use antibiotics merely to make animals grow faster."

The good news is it will be harder for farmers to feed their livestock antibiotics to make them grow faster rather than treat disease. The bad news is, following the regulations is still somewhat voluntary. Fortunately, pharmaceutical companies seem to be on board. With increasing concerns about the "superbugs" created by antibiotic overuse, it's good to see steps made in the right direction. This should be a healthy improvement for the quality of our meat supply.

Where's This Meat From?