Washington: Consuming peanuts regularly can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease without weight gain, a Purdue University professor has claimed.

"Peanuts are a rich source of mono-saturated fatty acids, magnesium and folate, vitamin E, copper, arginine and fiber, all of which have cardiovascular disease risk-reducing properties," said Richard Mattes, professor of foods and nutrition, and his doctoral student Corinna Alper.

"But peanuts are rich in the types of fats that actually reduce cardiovascular disease risk and have strong satiety properties - meaning a person feels full after eating peanuts - so they do not pose a threat of weight gain," he said.

The study conducted with the help of a grant from the United States Agency for International and National Development involved three trials. In all three groups, the tri-glyceride level of the subjects involved showed a significant decrease.

"We have learned that regular peanut consumption lowers tri-glyceride levels by as much as 24 per cent - even in the group where peanuts were added to regular dietary intake," Mattes said.

"We also saw no significant change in body weight, despite adding 500 calories of peanuts a day for eight weeks," he added.

ANI