A handful of pistachio nuts a day can help destroy bad cholesterol, ward off heart disease and prevent cancer, according to scientists writing in the Journal of Nutrition. The nuts are full of antioxidants that protect cells from damage by harmful chemicals, called "free radicals". The findings follow previous research by the same team that discovered pistachios help destroy bad cholesterol that can lead to heart attacks and stroke. The team found pistachios were much richer in the main dietary antioxidants lutein, beta-carotene and gamma-tocopherol than other nuts. -- Daily Telegraph, May 21, 2010