We all like to snack every now and again, but what is a good snack to snack on? Perhaps nuts could be the healthy snack that you are looking for. Nuts are good for your mental health too! I must exercise caution here first; nuts are high in fat, so moderation is best. Fortunately, though, this is unsaturated fat, which is the healthier variety of fat.
According to the British Heart foundation, nuts contain protein, B vitamins, vitamin E and minerals, including iron, potassium, magnesium, copper and zinc. Eating a variety of nuts which may include peanuts, pistachios, macadamias, walnuts, hazelnuts and brazil nuts can give you a good variety of nutrients.
As for brain health, you may remember in a previous blog post, I spoke about walnuts as being great for your brain as they contain antioxidants that can prevent cognitive decline. Another nut, the almond, comes close. Almonds are high in minerals like vitamin E, an antioxidant that protects the brain from free radicals thereby reducing the risk of oxidative stress and therefore neurodegenerative diseases. In addition, research is emerging that tends to suggest that almonds may help slow down cognitive decline associated with aging and help improve memory overall.
Sources: https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/nutrition/are-nuts-good-for-you
https://www.betteraging.com/nutrition/can-eating-almonds-help-improve-cognitive-health/