Snacking is important, but you need to choose your snacks wisely and eat them in small portions to get the best benefit.

Nuts make a great snack; my personal favorite are almonds. Eating just a handful of almonds each day has been found to lower LDL cholesterol by as much as 9 percent.

In addition to lowering cholesterol, almonds are loaded with the antioxidant vitamin E and essential minerals.

They also contain omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and protein.

But perhaps the best thing about almonds is that even though they taste fattening, they actually contain the good monounsaturated oils, not the nasty saturated stuff. So they fill you up without getting you fat.

Dark chocolate is another snack that has been found to be heart-healthy. A couple of small squares make a special treat.