Eat This Every Day and Feel Fuller, Healthier and Happier

What if we told you that eating just 1 ounce of a food every day would curb your appetite, improve your heart health, steady your blood sugar, quiet inflammation, nudge your lousy LDL cholesterol down, and make you happier? You'd probably say, "Wow! Where can I get some? Just please don't say it's liver."

It's something we bet you love: nuts. Specifically, we're talking about walnuts, almonds, and hazelnuts, skins and all. (Like the skin on apples and pears, the skin on nuts is packed with goodness.)

You Get More for Less
Two surprises in this healthy news: One is the don't-worry-be-happy part. Even though nuts (especially walnuts and almonds) have been studied extensively, this is the first evidence we've seen that they increase the feel-good chemical in your brain called serotonin.

Second is the small amount of nuts needed. Up until now, most health benefits from nuts have been tied to eating 2 ounces daily. But 2 ounces of nuts averages 400 calories, and adding 400 calories a day can quickly add up to 1 pound a week. It's easier to slide 200 calories into your daily diet: Skip one slice of bread, another of cheese and you're there. (Passionate about pistachios? They're even easier to fit into your diet.)

How much is an ounce of nuts? The easy answer is a fistful. But if you're as precise as weather forecasters are not, it's 12 hazelnuts, 14 walnut halves, or 24 almonds. (Try this Pear, Prosciutto, and Hazelnut Stuffing.)

Try these 4 tricks for happily eating less (and gaining less) over the holidays. Yep, nuts are step one.