New research has found a little nuts can go a long way to reducing heart disease.

University of Wollongong associate professor and nutrition and dietician specialist Dr Yasmine Probst said there were differences in total cholesterol levels in those who ate any variety of nuts.

Dr Probst, also a research fellow with the Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, told Gareth Parker on 6PR Breakfast a handful of nuts each day can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by 15 per cent.

“Any of the nuts are fine, they are very similar in their composition, they all have unsaturated fats in them, and a lot of them have some fibre in them as well,” she said.

“The occasional time you can have your salted or choc-coated nuts but we’d prefer most of the time they are raw nuts … it’s all about balance.”

Tap PLAY below to hear more about the new findings on nuts and heart disease.