Peanuts Cut Risk of Disease and Death

Sharon Palmer RD

Published on February 25, 2017

If you’re looking for one simple way to gain major health benefits, peanuts may be the answer. New research from Imperial College London School of Public Health shows that consuming a little less than a serving (20 grams) a day of peanuts is an effective way to reduce heart disease and risk of death from other causes. Published in the journal BMC Medicine, this study demonstrates that daily peanut and nut consumption reduces the risk of several major diseases and causes of death. Coronary heart disease, cardiovascular disease, total cancer, and all-cause mortality were reduced with high nut consumption. In addition, high peanut butter intake was effective in reducing mortality risk.

Twenty population studies were included in this meta-analysis, totaling over 820,000 study participants. Because this analysis included such a large number of participants, researchers were able to examine the impact of nut consumption on less common causes of death, such as respiratory disease, diabetes, and kidney disease. Researchers found that a high intake of peanuts and other nuts reduced the risk of respiratory disease mortality by 24%, and diabetes mortality risk by 32%. While the results were similar for peanuts and other nuts, only peanuts were effective in reducing the risk of stroke and kidney disease.

Aune D, Keum N, Giovannucci EL, et al. Nut consumption and risk of cardiovascular disease, total cancer, all-cause and cause-specific mortality: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies. BMC Med 2016;14(207).

For more information on peanuts, visit www.peanut-institute.org and wwww.peanutpower.org.