Penn State researchers, in their first pistachio-involved study, found that for healthy eaters, a handful or two of pistachios per day can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

"Consumption of pistachios significantly reduced multiple risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including a decrease in LDL cholesterol," said Sarah Gebauer, a recent recipient of a PhD from Penn State, who helped conduct the study.

Results showed the two diets included in the study that included pistachios lowered LDL cholesterol or "bad" cholesterol and suggested a 9 to 12 percent decrease in the risk for cardiovascular disease.

"It is important to substitute [the pistachios] into your diet and to not just add them into what an individual's diet already is," Gebauer said.

Cholesterol has two different components: HDL, or, good cholesterol and LDL, or, bad cholesterol, Gebauer said.

"These two [cholesterol] numbers are more important for predicting heart disease than total cholesterol, " said Kristine Clark, director of sports nutrition at Penn State. "The National Cholesterol Education Program defines good cholesterol as anything under 200."

Twenty-eight male and female subjects, ranging in age from 30 to 70, took part in the study.

The trial included 14 weeks of consuming "treatment diets" in addition to two two-week breaks.

They were required to test three variations of the Step 1 diet, a standard blood cholesterol diet that is lower in dietary fat, Gebauer said.

The first Step 1 diet included no pistachios, the second variation included 10 percent energy from pistachios and the third variation included 20 percent energy from pistachios, according to Penn State Live.

"Ten percent pistachios is approximately one and a half ounces, or a large handful of pistachios per day and 20 percent is three ounces, or two large handfuls of pistachios per day," Gebauer said.

The study conducted was a crossover, which means each subject tested all three of the diets.

Along with pistachios, the Step 1 diet offered the subjects other foods, including low-fat or nonfat cheese and dairy products and less oil and butter than a typical American diet, Gebauer said. All diets tested were rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean meats.

Emily Naumann (sophomore-elementary education) said she could eat a handful of pistachios with breakfast each morning.

"I like them, but I always thought they were bad for me," she said.

Clark said college students need to be health-conscious when choosing their foods.

"I feel good about my health," Naumann said.

"I'm trying to be healthy now because of the effect it will have on my health in the future," she added.