Around the world studies have confirmed that regularly eating nuts, including peanuts can help reduce risk of coronary heart disease (CHD).
Canada’s McMaster University, site of the largest meta-analysis ever undertaken of the role of diet in heart disease, singles out nuts and vegetables for their strong association with reduced rates of coronary heart disease.
McMaster reported that consumption of 30 grams of nuts per day (a small handful), combined with a Mediterranean dietary pattern (fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes) led to a 13 per cent reduction of symptoms over one year in a study of 1,224 participants at high risk of heart disease.
A Shanghai study of 75,000 women concluded that “peanuts may have a protective effect on type 2 diabetes because of their high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids.” It also pointed to the link between nut consumption and “a lower risk of coronary heart disease.”
According to a September 2005 Leger Omnibus poll, 81 per cent of Canadians believe either peanuts or peanut butter are healthy foods.