In an era where concerns about “suboptimal health” and premature aging are increasingly common, the market is flooded with supplements and lifestyle interventions claiming anti-aging benefits. Surprisingly, peanuts—a widely accessible, affordable, and familiar food—have recently attracted growing scientific attention. Emerging research suggests that peanuts may play a meaningful role in cellular protection, slowing biological aging, and supporting brain vascular and cognitive function.
This article reviews two recent peer-reviewed studies published in Antioxidants and Clinical Nutrition, which investigate the effects of long-term peanut consumption on telomere length in young adults and cerebral blood flow and memory performance in older adults, respectively. Together, these findings highlight how regularly consuming skin-roasted peanuts may contribute to healthier aging through antioxidant activity, vascular modulation, and gut–brain interactions.
In the face of widespread concerns about “suboptimal health” and “aging before old age,” the internet is saturated with products and tutorials promising vitality and longevity. Yet peanuts—a humble, affordable, and crunchy snack—have recently appeared with surprising frequency in academic journals. Scientists are now confirming that peanuts may possess remarkable potential for cellular protection, anti-aging effects, and improvements in brain function.
Today, we explore two intriguing studies to understand how peanuts may exert these benefits—and how to consume them to maximize their effects.
Cellular Aging and Telomeres: Can Peanuts Slow the Clock?
It is well known that aging is not only reflected in wrinkles and gray hair but also involves deeper cellular-level changes. Telomeres, often described as the “protective caps” of chromosomes, are closely associated with cellular aging and lifespan. The shorter the telomeres, the more likely cells are to enter senescence or undergo apoptosis.
Is there a way to slow telomere shortening? Diet—especially foods rich in antioxidant compounds—is currently considered a potential “biological brake” on this process.
Peanuts are rich in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and polyphenolic compounds such as resveratrol and coumaric acids, which exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, whether peanuts can influence telomere length, particularly in young and healthy individuals, had rarely been investigated. A study published in Antioxidants sought to address this gap.
DOI: 10.3390/antiox14040467
Study Design and Participants
This research was part of the ARISTOTLE study, a three-arm parallel randomized controlled trial conducted between 2019 and 2020. Sixty-three healthy young adults aged 18–33 years from the University of Barcelona were initially recruited. After excluding individuals with chronic diseases, peanut allergies or intolerance, BMI above 25 kg/m², smoking habits, or frequent alcohol consumption, 58 participants were included in the final analysis.
Following a two-week peanut-free run-in period, participants were randomly assigned to one of three intervention groups for six months:
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SRP group: 25 g/day of skin-roasted peanuts (approximately one small handful)
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PB group: 32 g/day (2 tablespoons) of peanut butter
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CB group: 32 g/day of control butter
Participants were allowed to maintain their usual dietary habits and choose the timing of peanut consumption. However, intake of foods rich in phenolic compounds shared with peanuts—such as wine, grapes, dark chocolate (>70% cocoa), and berries—was restricted. Other nuts with similar nutrient profiles, including pistachios, walnuts, almonds, and hazelnuts, were excluded from the diet.
Daily Skin-Roasted Peanuts May Delay Cellular Aging
The results were striking. Compared with the control butter group (CB), participants in the skin-roasted peanut group (SRP) showed a significant increase in telomere length after six months. Notably, no participants in the SRP group exhibited accelerated telomere shortening (defined as a shortening rate ≤20th percentile).
In contrast, the peanut butter group (PB) did not differ significantly from the control group in telomere length changes, suggesting that processing may substantially reduce the anti-aging potential of peanuts. Moreover, 22% of participants in the PB group experienced accelerated telomere shortening, while this phenomenon was most pronounced in the CB group, affecting 38% of participants.
Accelerated telomere shortening across intervention groups
Further analyses examined associations between dietary components and telomere length (TL). Compared with the CB group, both intervention groups consumed higher levels of dietary fiber, vitamin E, and peanut-specific phytochemicals such as coumaric acid and resveratrol. However, only the SRP group showed significantly higher intake of m-coumaric acid.
Linear regression analyses revealed that monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) intake was positively associated with TL. This association remained significant after adjusting for BMI, physical activity, and total energy intake. m-Coumaric acid also showed a modest but significant positive association with TL. In other words, MUFA and m-coumaric acid may represent the core anti-aging components of skin-roasted peanuts.
Associations between changes in anthropometric, biochemical, and dietary variables and telomere length
Potential Mechanisms
The researchers proposed two primary mechanisms by which skin-roasted peanuts may slow telomere shortening:
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Direct antioxidant effects: MUFA and polyphenols such as coumaric acids may reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, both key drivers of telomere attrition.
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Indirect gut modulation: Whole, skin-on peanuts retain an intact fiber-rich structure that nourishes gut microbiota, promoting the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which have been linked to reduced psychological stress and improved cellular health.
Brain Health and Blood Flow: Can Peanuts Boost Cognitive Function in Older Adults?
After examining the effects of peanuts on young cells, an important question arises: can peanuts also benefit aging brains? A second study published in Clinical Nutrition focused on cerebral vascular function and cognitive performance in older adults.
As people age, cerebral blood flow tends to decline, increasing the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia. Peanuts are rich in L-arginine (a precursor of nitric oxide, a vasodilator), unsaturated fatty acids, and antioxidant polyphenols—all of which may support vascular health. This study was the first to use arterial spin labeling magnetic resonance imaging (ASL-MRI) to directly and quantitatively assess the impact of peanut consumption on cerebral blood flow.
Study Design and Participants
Thirty-one healthy older adults with a mean age of 67 years completed two 16-week phases in a randomized, single-blind, controlled crossover design:
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Intervention phase: Daily consumption of 60 g of unsalted, skin-roasted peanuts
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Control phase: No consumption of peanuts or other nuts
An 8-week washout period separated the two phases. At the end of each phase, MRI was used to measure global and regional cerebral blood flow, and computerized cognitive tests assessed memory and executive function.
Peanuts Increase Cerebral Blood Flow and Improve Memory
After 16 weeks of peanut consumption, participants exhibited significantly enhanced cerebral perfusion. Whole-brain blood flow increased by an average of 3.6%, while blood flow in gray matter—the region critical for information processing—increased by 4.5%.
Although these percentages may appear modest, they are clinically meaningful, given that cerebral blood flow typically declines by approximately 0.37% per year with aging. Brain imaging provided in the study visually demonstrated brighter perfusion patterns following the peanut intervention.
Average cerebral blood flow (CBF) maps in adults (n=31) during (A) peanut intervention and (B) control periods
Notably, improvements were region-specific. Blood flow increased by 6.6% in the frontal lobe, which is essential for executive function, decision-making, and memory, and by 4.9% in the temporal lobe, a region closely involved in language comprehension and memory storage. These changes provide a physiological basis for observed cognitive improvements.
In verbal memory tests, participants recalled approximately 1.4 more words during delayed recall, corresponding to a 5.8% improvement in memory performance.
Cognitive performance of older adults following peanut and control interventions
Additionally, systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure were significantly reduced during the peanut intervention, further supporting the cardiovascular benefits of peanut consumption.
Underlying Mechanisms
Researchers suggested that these benefits arise from synergistic effects of multiple peanut components:
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L-arginine, which increases nitric oxide production and promotes vasodilation
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Polyphenols such as resveratrol in peanut skins, which protect blood vessels by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation
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Dietary fiber, which may influence brain health through gut microbiota modulation and the gut–brain axis
Why the Peanut Skin Matters
Both studies emphasized the importance of consuming skin-on peanuts. The red skin serves as a “natural antioxidant armor,” concentrating polyphenols such as resveratrol and coumaric acids. These compounds are believed to drive many of the cellular and vascular benefits observed.
Moreover, the peanut skin contributes functional dietary fiber. Whole, skin-on peanuts preserve structural integrity, enhancing fermentation by gut bacteria and promoting the production of beneficial short-chain fatty acids. Processing peanuts into butter disrupts this structure, likely diminishing these effects—an observation supported by the weaker outcomes in the peanut butter group.
Conclusion
Taken together, these two studies provide compelling evidence that daily consumption of skin-roasted peanuts may increase telomere length, delay cellular aging, enhance cerebral blood flow, and improve memory and cognitive performance. Despite their small size, peanuts deliver substantial biological benefits.
Replacing heavily processed, sugary snacks with a modest daily portion of skin-on peanuts may represent a simple and scientifically supported strategy for healthier aging. However, moderation remains key. Peanuts are energy-dense, and a small handful per day (less than 50 g), preferably unsalted and minimally processed, is sufficient.
References
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Torres-Oteros D, Parilli-Moser I, Laveriano Santos EP, et al. 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). 2025;14(4):467.
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Kerkhof L, Mensink RP, Plat J, Nijssen KMR, Joris PJ. Longer-term skin-roasted peanut consumption improves brain vascular function and memory: A randomized, single-blind, controlled crossover trial in healthy older adults. Clin Nutr. 2025;55:170–179. doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2025.10.020. PMID: 41205298.