Walnuts are the best nuts for your heart!

Walnuts are actually seeds not nuts! They grow in little green fruits that look like grainy textured apples on walnut trees.

Once the green skin is peeled off, a more familiar sight is seen. The hard shell is difficult to crack open, but inside is one of most popular nuts in the world. It is shaped like a brain, but studies show it heals the heart. Of all the different types of nuts, walnuts are unusual as they contain polyunsaturated fatty acids of both the omega-3 and omega-6 families, as well as monounsaturated fats, but no cholesterol.

Omega-3 are generally lacking in our diets and can help reduce risk of heart disease by improving blood flow around the arteries. Walnuts are the main "non-fish" source of alpha-linolenic acid, which gets transformed into omega-3 fatty acids in our bodies.

When buying unshelled walnuts, it’s best to keep them in the refrigerator or the freezer. Popular in baked goods, versatile walnuts add crunch to salads or savoury dishes.