Nutty About Nuts

Over the past decade, nuts have risen to the top of the healthy-snack list. But which one is king? Pecans, according to a USDA study that analyzed 10 popular nuts for their content of antioxidants.

So here's the list of healthiest according to their antioxidants (micromoles per gram):

1. Pecans - 5,095
2. Walnuts - 3,846
3. Hazelnuts - 2,739
4. Pistachios - 2,267
5. Almonds - 1,265
6. Peanuts - 899
7. Cashews - 567
8. Macadamias - 481
9. Brazil Nuts - 403
10. Pine Nuts - 204

What else you need to know:

Pistachios (1 oz)
Pecans (1 oz)
Monosaturated fat: 7g
Protein: 6g
Fiber: 3g
What You Need to Know
Phytosterols, a plant cholesterol found in pistachios and hazelnuts, can produce a 10-point drop in your triglycerides and a 16-point decline in your LDL (bad) cholesterol.

Pecans (1 oz)
Monosaturated fat: 12g
Protein: 3g
Fiber: 3g
What You Need to Know
Pecans pack the most antioxidants of any nut. Adding them to your diet may reduce your risk of cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer's disease.

Hazelnuts (1 oz)
Monosaturated fat: 13g
Protein: 4g
Fiber: 3g
What You Need to Know
Men who are a handful of hazelnuts daily boosted their HDL (good) cholesterol levels by 12 percent.

Walnuts (1 oz)
Monosaturated fat: 2.5g
Protein: 4g
Fiber: 2g
What You Need to Know
Walnuts contain 2.5g omega-3s per oz. Getting more omega-3s in your diet may help ward off depression and the ultimate killer - heart attack.

Brazil Nuts (1 oz)
Monosaturated fat: 7g
Protein: 4g
Fiber: 2g
What You Need to Know
No food packs more selenium, a mineral linked to prostate-cancer protection. Selenium may also prevent colon cancer in men as well.