Eating Peanuts Could Keep You Younger For longer.
Researchers from the University of Barcelona have found that snacking on a handful of peanuts every day could slow down cellular ageing – the process by which the body’s cells grow older, a factor linked to heart disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes.
The research, published in the journal Antioxidants, builds on previous evidence that foods rich in antioxidants may help reduce cell ageing.
Antioxidants, found in plant-based foods, protect against harmful molecules called free radicals, which can damage healthy cells.
For the study, 58 healthy young adults were split into two groups, with one group eating 25 grams of peanuts daily for six months, while the other consumed the same amount of peanut butter.
Saliva samples were taken to measure telomere length – protective caps at the ends of chromosomes that shorten as we age.
Results showed the peanut group’s telomeres shortened at almost half the rate of those in the peanut butter group.
The report stated: “Telomere shortening has been linked to age-related diseases like heart disease, diabetes and cancer. But peanut consumption may help to mitigate these risks.”
Researchers advise sticking to unsalted peanuts to avoid raising blood pressure.
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Britons already consume nearly 180,000 tonnes of peanuts a year, and demand for the healthy snack is growing.
