Eating peanuts each day may lower risk for a common type of stroke and heart disease compared to eating no peanuts, according to new research in Asian men and women living in Japan.
The study, published in the American Heart Association journal Stroke, found people who ate four to five peanuts per day had a 20 percent lower risk of having a blood clot-related stroke and a 16 percent lower risk of having any type of stroke. The analysis also determined peanut-eaters had a 13 percent lower risk of cardiovascular disease, which includes both strokes and heart disease. The results were the same for men and women.
“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,” lead study author Satoyo Ikehara said in a news release.
Ikehara said peanuts are rich in heart-healthy nutrients, such as “monounsaturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, minerals, vitamins and dietary fiber that help lower risk of cardiovascular disease by reducing risk factors, including high blood pressure, high blood levels of ‘bad’ cholesterol and chronic inflammation.”
