A new study reveals that eating unsalted, skin-roasted peanuts daily can sharpen memory and lower blood pressure, especially in older adults.
Researchers at Maastricht University Medical Center in the Netherlands conducted a clinical trial involving 31 healthy adults aged 60 to 75. Participants who ate about half a cup (60 grams) of these peanuts every day for 16 weeks saw a 5.8% improvement in verbal memory and a 3.6% increase in cerebral blood flow.
Brain imaging showed enhanced blood flow to the frontal and temporal lobes-regions critical for memory and thinking.
Additional benefits included a 5 mm Hg drop in systolic blood pressure and a 4 mm Hg reduction in pulse pressure.
Study author Peter Joris noted that peanuts are rich in plant protein, L-arginine, unsaturated fats, and polyphenols, all of which support vascular health.
The findings were published in a journal of the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism.