Eating peanuts every day helps older people improve blood flow to the brain, improve memoryaccording to a new study.
In a study published in the journal Clinical Nutrition, scientists at the NUTRIM Institute at Maastricht University Medical Center in the Netherlands set out to test whether this simple, inexpensive food causes measurable changes in people’s brains as they age.
The team employs 31 people. healthy elderly In one period of the study, participants ate 60 grams of unsalted, skin-roasted peanuts every day for 16 weeks. At another stage, he avoided peanuts completely, according to a press release.
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The order was random, and there was an 8-week break between the two periods to ensure that the effects of the first period were not carried over into the second period.
Throughout the study, researchers used special equipment to measure blood flow in the brain. MRI technology They then tested their memory using a standard battery of cognitive measures.
At the end of the peanut intake period, there was an overall 3.6% increase in blood flow in the brain. There was also a slightly stronger improvement in gray matter, the brain tissue responsible for memory, emotion, and decision-making.
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”[Cerebral blood flow] It is an important physiological marker because it is caused by strong blood flow to the brain. its health,” study author Dr. Peter Joris, associate professor in the Department of Nutrition and Exercise Sciences at Maastricht University Medical Center, said in a press release.
“We found that long-term consumption of unsalted, skin-roasted peanuts improved overall cerebral blood flow, suggesting an overall strengthening of the brain.” cerebrovascular function. ”
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These increases were most pronounced in the frontal and temporal lobes, areas important for higher-order thinking and language.
Participants also performed approximately 5.8% better on verbal memory tests.
No significant improvements were seen in other areas of thinking, such as executive function or reaction speed.
This study also reported a small decrease in systolic blood pressure. blood pressure It suggests a wide range of benefits for vascular health, including pulse pressure.
contained in peanuts some nutrients The study authors pointed to unsaturated fats, vegetable proteins, fiber, polyphenols, and certain amino acids that may support blood vessel function.
“Peanuts are particularly rich in plant protein and contain high concentrations of L-arginine, an amino acid important for vascular health,” Joris writes. “They are also a valuable source of unsaturated fats and polyphenols, which are known to support vascular function.”
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Because the peanuts were roasted with their skins on, participants also received additional antioxidants. Together, these factors may help explain the improvements seen in blood flow and memory.
This study had several limitations, including the small sample size and the fact that all participants were healthy older adults. Therefore, it is difficult to determine whether the effects apply to larger populations, younger people, or people with medical conditions. medical condition.
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In this study, only unsalted, skin-roasted peanuts were tested at specific daily amounts. Other forms of peanuts or small amounts of peanuts may not produce the same results.
Because participants likely knew whether they were or not. eat peanutsthe researchers pointed out that there was also a possibility of a placebo effect.
Because this trial lasted only a few months, it cannot show whether these benefits persist over time or affect long-term dementia risk.
Because peanuts are high in calories, nutritionists usually recommend choosing unsalted, lightly salted, dry-roasted, or raw peanuts rather than those with lots of added salt or roasted in oil. Peanuts should be consumed in moderation, balanced with healthy protein, vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.
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The NUTRIM study was supported by funding from the Peanut Research Institute Foundation, which had no role in the study design, conduct, analysis or interpretation of the data, or writing the manuscript, the published results state.
