MOOD FOOD Beat the blues with butter

NUTRITIONIST Amanda Hamilton shows how to manage your mood — with food.

BUTTER is nature’s richest source of butyrate, which controls inflammation and helps to promote a healthy gut.

Without this fatty acid, the gut wall can become ‘leaky’ and our immune system can falter, making us more prone to inflammatory disorders such as Crohn’s, IBS, skin problems, joint pain and depression.

The link between depression and inflammation is thought to be C-reactive protein, produced when our bodies become inflamed, which causes anxiety. So carry on buttering your toast — your mind will thank you for it.