To consume a handful of nuts (an amount of 30g), on a daily basis or at least 3 times a week, is highly recommended to control cholesterol levels and for general health. It is advised to eat them raw and unpeeled (not toasted nor salted) if possible, given that the majority of the antioxidants are in the skin. They should be consumed during the day, not after dinner, so as to avoid putting on weight. This is recommendable for everybody (from the age of five upwards); the only contraindication is the rather infrequent allergy to nuts, the most common bei.