Go nuts

Myths about fat content have given nuts a bad rap when in fact they are good for our heart and mental health.

- JENNIFER BOWDEN

QUESTION: Are nuts good for mental health? I recently read that nuts helped with depression.

ANSWER: uts are the chameleon of the food and nutrition world - seamlessly shifting from the realm of tasty, savoury snack offered alongside a cold beer on a night out to topping the healthiest food lists worldwide. Nuts are delicious and nutritious, and therein lies the bonus - because, as you suggest, recent research has found nuts benefit our cardiovascular and mental health, too.

Peanuts and tree nuts are rich in essential micronutrients, including folate, niacin, vitamin E and vitamin B6. They're also rich in several macronutrients, such as mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids, dietary fibre, phytoestrogens, phytochemicals and essential minerals, including copper, magnesium, potassium and zinc.