A new study has found that eating a small amount of nuts each day could protect against cancer and heart disease. Researchers have discovered that men and women who eat at least 10g of nuts or peanuts per day have a lower risk of dying from several major causes of death than those who do not. According to The Huffington Post, the benefits were not seen by those who regularly consumed peanut butter as the salt and trans fatty acids could inhibit the protective effects. The study, carried out in the Netherlands, found that peanuts and tree nuts both contain various vitamins, fibre, antioxidants and compounds such as monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids that could possibly contribute to the lower death rates. The reduction in mortality was strongest for respiratory disease, neurodegenerative disease, and diabetes, followed by cancer and cardiovascular diseases in both men and women.