researchers believe this salty snack can help slow aging process
research suggests that peanuts may help slow the aging process in young, healthy adults, but there's a catch
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turning back the clock by eating peanuts? it's possible, if you choose the right kind.
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looking to turn back the clock with some help from a salty snack? new research published in the journal antioxidants suggests that, yes, it’s possible.
telomeres, which are the caps at the ends of your chromosomes, get shorter as you age and that shortening can contribute to age-related diseases such as cancer, type 2 diabetes and heart issues.
your diet can impact telomere length, however, and a new study has circled in on a specific food that can be a difference-maker by helping to slow down your body’s aging process.
a team of researchers explored how telomeres were affected by a daily dose of peanuts and peanut butter. antioxidants have been shown to fight telomere shortening, so it follows that peanuts – a rich source of antioxidants such as vitamin e, niacin and polyphenols like resveratrol – would be beneficial.
researchers said they believe that peanuts are capable of neutralizing reactive oxygen species and reducing inflammation, two qualities that could go a long way in preserving telomere length.
while it would seem likely that peanut butter — made mainly from ground peanuts — would have the same effect, that didn’t turn out to be the case.
the study included 58 participants who were divided into three groups. the first group received 25 grams of skin-roasted peanuts per day, the second consumed 32 grams of peanut butter and the third received 32 grams a day of a control butter made from peanut oil.
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the participants were instructed to avoid other nuts, grapes, dark chocolate and wine during the trial.
participants who ate peanuts showed a significant increase in telomere length after three months. none showed telomere shortening.
peanut butter eaters, however, did not have the same results. there was no increase in telomere length, and 22 per cent had accelerated telomere shortening.
the results suggested that daily consumption of skin-roasted peanuts might slow telomere shortening in young, healthy adults.
the study authors believe that, unlike processed peanut butter, whole peanuts might support gut microbiota-derived, short-chain fatty acids linked to lower cortisol and depression biomarkers in the same trial.
“these findings highlight the importance of whole foods over processed alternatives in promoting cellular health,” the authors noted, per the new york post.
the news isn’t particularly noteworthy for one segment of the population: those with a peanut allergy.
this article was originally published in the toronto sun on august 24, 2025.
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