Nuts and Beer

An article from ABC News today says that the health benefits of certain foods are magnified when they're combined with other foods.

Here's their short list. Read the article for details:

• Salsa and Avocado
• Nuts and Beer
• Garlic and Fennel
• Exercise and Caffeine

Since I don't like fennel or exercise (plus exercise isn't a food), I think I'll stick with nuts and beer.

Sitting at the bar while eating nuts and drinking beer is not a path to heart disease, but may in fact be a healthy pastime. In fact, nuts boost good cholesterol, HDL, and lower bad cholesterol, LDL. And alcohol acts as a blood thinner and helps prevent blood clots. In both cases, though, moderation is key.

Swedish researchers have also found that the fat and fiber in nuts slow down the absorption of alcohol, smoothing out the effects of moderate alcohol consumption.

For best results, try to eat about 15 minutes before taking that first drink.