A study found that different flavors of peanuts -- salted, spicy, honey-roasted, or unsalted -- result in positive health benefits.
March 7/Alexandria, Va./PRNewswire -- A new study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that different flavors of peanuts -- salted, spicy, honey-roasted, or unsalted -- result in positive health benefits. The study, "A Randomized Trial on the Effects of Flavorings on the Health Benefits of Daily Peanut Consumption," was conducted at Purdue University and included over 150 men and women who incorporated peanuts into their daily diet for 12 weeks.
"Regardless of flavoring, peanut consumption offered significant benefits to participants with elevated serum lipids and blood pressure," says Dr. Richard Mattes, professor of Nutrition Science at Purdue University. Results showed that all varieties of peanuts significantly decreased mean diastolic blood pressure in all participants. For those who had high blood pressure, the changes were greatest over the first two weeks of the study and were sustained throughout the 12 weeks. Interestingly, the findings were similar for salted and unsalted peanuts. While all participants decreased their blood pressure, those who ate salted or unsalted peanuts had slightly greater decreases than those who consumed spicy or honey-roasted peanuts.