A recent study suggested that nuts have extraordinary health benefits, but Dalrymple takes these nuts with a grain of salt:

This is far from the first study that indicates the healthfulness of nuts. Indeed, so persuasive have these studies been that the Food and Drug Administration says a daily consumption of one and a half ounces of nuts might reduce the risk of heart disease. Nuts are said to reduce inflammation, fat deposition round the viscera, the level of sugar in the blood, blood pressure and damage to the lining of the blood vessels, among other desiderata. Increased nut consumption is “associated with” (weasel words) a reduction in the rate of colon cancer, gallstones, diverticulitis and type II diabetes.