Nuts May Negate Death Risks

Previously, a number of studies report that consumption of various types of nuts may reduce risk of cardiovascular-disease related deaths.  Piet van den Brandt, from Maastricht University (The Netherlands), and colleagues surveyed 120,852 men and women, ages 55-69 years, enrolled in the Netherlands Cohort Study, for dietary and lifestyle habits; deaths were tracked using a national database.  Data analysis revealed that men and women who eat at least 10 grams of nuts or peanuts per day have a lower risk of dying from several major causes of death, as compared to people who don’t consume tree nuts or peanuts.  The reduction in mortality was strongest for respiratory disease, neurodegenerative disease, and diabetes, followed by cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Interestingly, peanuts showed at least as strong reductions in mortality as tree nuts, but peanut butter did not associate with mortality.