Recent research from the University of Barcelona in Spain suggests that even young and healthy people should consume more peanuts and peanut butter because they can benefit vascular health. Peanuts are already known to be a healthy snack high in protein, vitamins, and minerals.
Peanuts have polyphenols, making them healthy
Peanuts are a type of nut that comes from the Arachis hypogaea plant. They are the most commonly consumed nut worldwide and are high in fatty acids, fiber, protein, and polyphenols, which makes them a healthy and nutrient-rich snack.
Usually, most nutritional studies concentrate on identifying significant differences among high-risk individuals, particularly older people, on observing potential beneficial effects of changing dietary patterns or introducing healthy foods into their diets. However, the latest study, which enrolled 63 subjects, included young people aged 18-33. The subjects were given peanut products daily for six months.
U.B. Department of Nutrition, Food Science and Gastronomy professor Rosa Lamuela said that in the study population, it is challenging to witness a considerable impact of dietary changes on their health.
The study showed that after consuming peanuts, healthy young people experienced improvements in vascular markers related to reducing blood clots and dilating blood vessels. This is the first nutritional intervention to confirm such effects.
Peanut increases phenolic metabolites responsible for vascular health
Lamuela explained that the study found that consuming peanuts or peanut butter increased phenolic metabolites and improved levels of lipid molecules associated with vascular health. However, the control group did not show these changes. Additionally, subjects that took peanut products also saw increased prostacyclin I2 levels and the ratio between prostacyclin I2 and thromboxane A2, lipid molecules that are critical vascular health markers.
Specific phenolic metabolites, such as hydroxycinnamic acids, increased after consuming peanut products and were found to improve cardiovascular markers. These results support the idea that polyphenols found in food have protective effects against cardiovascular disease and can benefit blood vessels. In addition, researchers state that polyphenols are anti-inflammatory and antioxidant products found in our diets.
