Do Peanuts Cause Inflammation? | The Peanut Institute (2024)

FAQs

Do Peanuts Cause Inflammation? | The Peanut Institute? ›

The short answer is no, and in fact, peanuts and some peanut products like peanut butter have been shown to be anti-inflammatory. Inflammation in the body is a mechanism thought to be at the center of the majority of chronic diseases.

Routine tree nut and peanut consumption improves health and reduces the risk of NCDs through multiple pathways, including a reduction in inflammation and oxidative stress [6,7,12,13,14,15].

In particular, experts recommend avoiding these inflammatory foods: Red meat, such as steak and hamburgers. Processed meat, such as bologna, bacon, sausage and lunchmeat. Commercial baked goods such as snack cakes, pies, cookies and brownies.

Lectin content significantly decreased with cooking time in both roasted and boiled peanuts, with the content in boiled peanuts decreasing more rapidly than in roasted peanuts. However, after 30 minutes of cooking, the amount of active lectin was zero regardless of the method.

The short answer is: no. Peanut butter powder isn't inflammatory because it doesn't contain significant amounts of fats or vitamins known to cause inflammation.

Many foods can contribute to inflammation and chronic disease, including foods high in added sugar, refined carbs, fried foods, alcohol, and meats cooked at high temperatures. Inflammation can be good or bad, depending on the situation.

The five types of foods that cause inflammation include: Red meat and processed meats, including bacon, hot dogs, lunch meats and cured meats. Refined grains, including white bread, white rice, pasta and breakfast cereals. Snack foods, including chips, cookies, crackers and pastries.

Fats, such as those found in avocados, butter, and olive oil, are allowed on the lectin-free diet. Many types of nuts, such as pecans, pistachios, pine nuts, flax seeds, hemp seeds, sesame seeds, and Brazil nuts, are also allowed. Some kinds of nuts contain lectins, including walnuts, almonds, and sunflower seeds.

Active lectins are what's found in raw plants. But boiling, baking, pressure-cooking and soaking can deactivate those lectins, so they're not going to have the same effect as they would if you ate them raw. Fermentation, sprouting and removing peels and seeds can also reduce the amount of active lectin in plant foods.

Eggs are not full of lectins. Chickens raised on pasture and not fed grains or soy produce eggs that contain little to no lectins. How do lectins work? Lectins are proteins found in plants that can bind to carbohydrates.

Can eating too many nuts cause inflammation? ›

Similarly, intakes of peanuts and other nuts were both inversely associated with inflammatory markers. Higher intake of other nuts was significantly associated with lower CRP and IL-6, and higher intake of peanuts was associated with lower CRP and TNFR2 (Supplemental Table 2).

According to a 2020 review, eggs contain substances such as trimethylamine-N-oxide, omega-6 fatty acids, and arachidonic acid, which can promote inflammation. However, a 2019 study on adults found no connection between egg consumption and inflammatory biomarkers in the blood.

Fellow coffee drinkers, I have great news! Research suggests that coffee does not cause inflammation in most people—even if your norm is more than one or two caffeinated cups a day. In fact, it's quite the opposite. According to a 2021 study in Nutrients, coffee may have anti-inflammatory effects on the body.

Peanuts and tree nuts, which are rich in potent bioactive nutrient substances including PUFAs, MUFAs, alpha-tocopherol, copper, and selenium, and non‐nutrients including fiber, polyphenols, and phytosterols, have the potential to reduce cardiometabolic damage induced by oxidative stressors and inflammatory substances.

A peanut sensitivity is a digestive issue in which your body will produce an inflammatory response to the particular proteins in a peanut which can lead to discomfort, even severe, without the need for immediate medical attention.

Selenium poisoning can make your nails brittle, cause your breath to smell, and even trigger aching muscles and joints. (Note: Selenium overload is specific to Brazil nuts, so no need to worry about this problem when eating other types.)

Too much peanuts intake at one time may even lead to stomach discomfort. Constipation, diarrhoea and bloating are common issues associated with excessive peanuts intake. So, it is recommended to take peanuts in moderate quantities if you are already suffering from stomach related issues.