The U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave nuts its approval by classifying them as heart-healthy foods. Nuts are also powerful antioxidants and prevent elevated cholesterol, heart attack, inflammation, diabetes and cancer. Nuts are energy dense (a lot of calories per volume), so people trying to lose weight often avoid them. A review of literature by German scientists concluded that nuts do not promote weight gain. In fact, people who eat the most nuts in their diet tend to gain the least weight over time. Nuts are high in fiber and protein, which curbs appetite. Nuts contain a variety of metabolically healthy foods and do not promote obesity. (Nutrition, 28: 1089-1097)