Health Benefits of Eating Peanuts for Heart and Diabetes

According to scientists, the health benefits of eating peanuts greatly help to reduce the inflammation associated with heart disease and diabetes type 2. A study involving more than 5000 volunteers, scientists have found that intake of nuts was associate with lower levels of inflammation. These findings suggest that the health benefits of eating nuts and was publish on July 27, 2016 in the journal American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Peanuts contain a number of healthful components including magnesium, fiber, L-arginine, antioxidants and unsaturated fatty acids such as a-linolenic acid. Scientists have yet to determine the components, or any combination of these. These components may be useful as a protection against inflammation.

Health Benefits of Eating Peanuts

According to Bao Ying, MD, ScD, the study is very consistent to support a protective role of beans against cardiometabolic disorders such as heart disease and diabetes type 2. According to the study, inflammation is a key process in the development of the disease. The health benefits of eating peanuts provide beneficial effects, especially to reduce systemic inflammation.

The scientists observed an association between increased consumption of beans and reduce the risk of major chronic diseases, even death. Previously, some prospective cohort studies have found an association between intake of peanuts and inflammation. It is completely contrary to the findings of this time, otherwise the beans helps reduce the risk of chronic diseases.

Scientists involved more than 120,000 women enrolled as a nurse, and more than 50,000 men work as health professionals. Diet was assess using a questionnaire and looked at the protein level, certain signs, known as biomarkers in blood samples collected from participants. It measures three biomarkers of inflammation including C-Reactive Protein (CRP), interleukin 6 (IL6) and Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor 2 (TNFR2).

This data was adjust for age, medical history, lifestyle and other variables. Scientists found that participants who consumed nuts five or more servings per week had lower levels of CRP and IL6 than those who never or almost never ate nuts. Then, the person who replaces three servings of beans with red meat, processed meat, eggs or refined grains, have lower levels of the CRP and IL6.

Scientists are interest in exploring more about the health benefits of eating peanuts through clinical trials that will regulate and monitor the diet. There are still many unknowns about how the effects of inflammation and diet, it all ended in the risk of disease. This study supports the role of overall healthy, they suggested eating peanuts in the diet to reduce inflammation. The potential mechanism may help explain the benefits of eating peanut on cardiometabolic disease.

Reference

• Associations between nut consumption and inflammatory biomarkers. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2016; DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.116.134205
• Frequent nut consumption associated with less inflammation, 29 July 2016, by Brigham and Women's Hospital..
• Boiled groundnuts, image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.