Daily peanut consumption could potentially reduce the risk of depression by 17%, according to a new study. Spanish researchers have reported that antioxidants found in this beloved snack, often enjoyed alongside beer, contribute to safeguarding the brain.
Bruno Bizzozero-Peroni from the University of Castilla-La Mancha in Spain stated, “Our findings highlight yet another benefit of nut consumption. This provides even stronger rationale for people to be enthusiastic about consuming nuts.”
Previous studies have shown that diet can have a significant impact on depression, with antioxidant-rich foods like berries proving beneficial.
The latest study, published in Elsevier’s Clinical Nutrition journal, examined how eating nuts affects people’s likelihood of developing this condition.
Researchers analyzed data from 13,504 Britons with an average age of 57, tracking whether they were diagnosed with depression or used antidepressants. They inquired about their dietary habits between 2007 and 2012, following up for about five years.
The nuts consumed included unsalted, salted, and roasted almonds, cashews, pistachios, as well as peanuts, although technically a legume.
Individuals who consumed a handful of nuts weighing 30 grams every day had lower chances of suffering from depression compared to those who didn’t consume any.
Bizzozero-Peroni explained, “The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects associated with the nutritional composition of nuts could play an important role in reducing the risk of depression.”
“Moreover, nuts are rich in amino acids, including arginine, glutamine, serine, and tryptophan, and lower levels of these amino acids have been linked to depression,” he elaborated.
