When someone says “peanuts,” most of us picture movie-night snacks or lunchtime favourites—not a secret weapon for ageing gracefully. But a fresh study out of Spain is making that salty staple feel far more glamorous. Let’s just say your telomeres (yes, those critical chromosome end-caps) might want to thank you.
What’s the Buzz? The Study Says…
In a six-month trial, young, healthy adults were split into three groups:
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25 g/day of skin-roasted peanuts
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32 g/day of peanut butter
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32 g/day of a control butter made from peanut oil (no fiber or phenolic compounds)
The result? Zero participants in the whole-peanut group experienced accelerated telomere shortening. By comparison, 22% in the peanut-butter group and a whopping 38% in the control group did. The takeaway: whole peanuts may actually slow your cells from ageing too fast.
Why Whole Peanuts Win
Experts think it’s not just the peanuts themselves, but what's inside them:
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Monounsaturated fats (MUFA) and m-coumaric acid seem to nurture cellular health.
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The fiber and phenolic compounds in whole peanuts might support healthy gut microbiota, producing short-chain fatty acids that help keep cells—and telomeres—resilient.
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Unsalted, skin-on peanuts appear to be better than their processed cousin, peanut butter—which didn’t deliver the same benefits.
But Let’s Get Real—Here Are the Caveats
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It was a small study (only 58 participants) and ran for just six months—far too short to claim long-term anti-ageing magic.
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The control wasn’t peanut-free—it was made with peanut oil, meaning some results could still be influenced by peanut derivatives.
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This was also limited to young, healthy adults. We can’t assume older women or broader demographics will see the same benefit.
Alyve’s Take
Imagine this: a humble snack that might help your cells hold on to their youth, at least a little longer. The above study is far from conclusive, but it’s an intriguing nudge toward treating whole foods—like peanuts—like the powerful, bioactive goodies they are.
Want to protect your telomeres and age gracefully? Start simple:
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Choose skin-on, unsalted peanuts over highly processed options.
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Embrace the fact that good nutrition (even in a humble snack) might be your low-key superpower.
Quick Recap:
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What to Know |
Reality Check |
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Whole peanuts may slow telomere shortening |
Yep, in a short-term small study—but not proven long-term |
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Peanut butter didn’t make the cut |
Processing might dilute those cellular benefits |
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More research needed |
Absolutely—especially in diverse groups and over longer periods |
References
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Torres-Oteros, D., Parilli-Moser, I., Laveriano Santos, E. P., Becerra-Tomás, N., Sanz-Lamora, H., Hurtado-Barroso, S., Haro, D., Marrero, P. F., Lamuela-Raventós, R. M., Relat, J., & Canudas, S. (2025). Unveiling the Impact of Peanut Consumption on Telomere Length in Young and Healthy Individuals: Insights from the ARISTOTLE Study: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Antioxidants (Basel), 14(4): 467. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox14040467
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Parilli-Moser, I., Domínguez-López, I., Trius-Soler, M., Castellví, M., Bosch, B., Castro-Barquero, S., Estruch, R., Hurtado-Barroso, S., Lamuela-Raventós, R. M., Relat, J., & Others. (2021). Consumption of peanut products improves memory and stress response in healthy adults from the ARISTOTLE study: A 6-month randomized controlled trial. Clinical Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnu.2021.09.020
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International Nut & Dried Fruit Council / Nutfruit Institute. (2025, May 21). New Study Finds Peanuts May Help Protect DNA in Young Adults. Inc. Nutfruit.
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