A recent study (NEJM 2013; 369: 2001-11) showed that nut consumption was associated with a lower mortality rate among more than 115,000 people in two large independent cohorts.  Nut consumption had significant inverse associations with deaths due to cancer, heart disease, and respiratory disease.  Those who ate nuts most frequently (7 or more times per week) had a 20% lower hazard ratio for death. However, the individuals who consumed nuts may have been more likely to have other healthy habits, though this was not identified in the study.

This study is explained more fully in the following video (less than 3 minutes):  nej.md/1aSbuY4