Nuts Promote Long Life? Study Finds Daily Intake Lowers Risk of Early Death

A new study has shown that eating nuts could help protect against major diseases and prevents early death.

In the study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology, researchers from Maastricht University found a 23 percent lower risk of early death among people who ate 10g of tree nuts or peanuts daily.

According to Science Daily, consuming nuts could serve as protection against death from respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases.

The effects are the same in both men and women who ate peanuts and ate tree nuts like cashews, pecans, almonds and walnuts in the study. However, peanut butter has not exhibited the same protective properties because of its added salt and vegetable oil, according to the researchers.

The 10-year study was carried out by analyzing the dietary and lifestyle data of more than 120,000 Dutch men and women ages 55 to 69 years old, as per Oxford University Press.

They found that by eating 10 grams of nuts daily, there was a 45 percent decreased risk of having neurodegenerative disease like dementia, 39 percent decreased risk of having respiratory diseases like emphysema or asthma and 30 percent decreased risk of having diabetes.

"It was remarkable that substantially lower mortality was already observed at consumption levels of 15g of nuts or peanuts on average per day, half a handful" said lead author Piet van den Brandt, professor of Epidemiology at Maastricht University, to BBC.

He added that he and his team adjusted the results based on certain factors, like when study participants ate more healthily by consuming vegetables and fruits.

Professor van den Brandt explained that peanuts and tree nuts contain monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and other bioactive compounds that are healthy.

He also noted that eating more than what the body needs will not reduce early death.

"This was also supported by a meta-analysis of previously published studies together with the Netherlands Cohort Study, in which cancer and respiratory mortality showed this same dose-response pattern," said Professor van den Brandt, the Telegraph has learned.

Even though peanut butter is a paste made from peanuts, it did not exhibit the same healthy effects as its raw component. According to Greatist, about two tablespoons of peanut butter amounts to 190 calories which contain saturated fats that could contribute to heart disease.

In the process of making peanut butter, it is also added with extra sugar, corn syrup, dextrose, hydrogenated vegetable oil and salt. These ingredients mean the addition of trans fat, a component that raises bad cholesterol and lowers good cholesterol, according to Mayo Clinic.