According to a recent study, people who consume peanuts have a lower risk of having a cardiovascular disease compared to those who did not. Findings of the study were published in Stroke, a journal of the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association. Researchers in the study specifically examined the link between peanut consumption and the incidence of different types of stroke and cardiovascular disease events among Japanese men and women.
Lead study author Satoyo Ikehara, PhD, said, “We showed for the first time a reduced risk for ischemic stroke incidence associated with higher peanut consumption in an Asian population. Our results suggest that adding peanuts to your diet has a beneficial effect on the prevention of ischemic stroke.”
They added, “Monounsaturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, minerals, vitamins and dietary fibre that help lower risk of cardiovascular disease by reducing risk factors, including high blood pressure, high blood levels of bad cholesterol and chronic inflammation.”
The analysis included people who were recruited in two phases, in 1995 and 1998-1999, for a total of more than 74,000 Asian men and women, ages 45 to 74, from the Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study. Participants completed a comprehensive lifestyle survey, which included a questionnaire about the frequency of peanut consumption. They were followed for approximately 15 years - through 2009 or 2012, depending on when they were originally enrolled.
The incidences of stroke and ischemic heart disease were determined by linking with 78 participating hospitals in the areas included in the study. Researchers adjusted for other health conditions, smoking, diet, alcohol consumption and physical activity, as detailed by participants in the questionnaires. The levels of peanut consumption were ranked in four quartiles, with 0 peanuts a day as the least intake compared to 4.3 unshelled peanuts a day (median) as the highest.
The link between peanut consumption and lowered risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease was consistent in both men and women. Ikehara said, “The beneficial effect of peanut consumption on risk of stroke, especially ischemic stroke was found, despite the small quantity of peanuts eaten by study participants. The habit of eating peanuts and tree nuts is still not common in Asian countries. However, adding even a small amount to one’s diet could be a simple yet effective approach to help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.”
The American Heart Association recommends eating about five servings of unsalted nuts per week, one serving is 1/2 ounce of nuts. The Association says other healthy nut options include unsalted cashews, walnuts, pecans, macadamia nuts and hazelnuts.
