Fruit and Nut Ingredients
levels of resveratrol, an antioxidant present in peanuts. In addition, other nuts were excluded from the diet. “This new research involves a group of young participants and points to the possible cognitive and mental health benefits from a relatively small daily serving of peanuts or peanut butter,” says Dr. Samara Sterling, a nutrition scientist and research director for The Peanut Institute. “When you break down the nutritional structure of peanuts, they have a unique combination of vitamins, minerals and bioactive compounds, including resveratrol, niacin, vitamin E and coumaric acids, that can contribute to cognition and mental health.” At the beginning and end of the study, trained personnel assessed the cognitive functions of participants, administering in a standard order a broad range of validated neuropsychological tests and mood disorder questionnaires. The tests evaluated the three main cognitive domains – memory, executive function and processing speed. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, validated for the Spanish population, was also used to detect anxious states and depressive states.
20 Kennedy’s Confection November 2022
Biological samples (fasting blood, 24-hour urine and feces) were collected prior to the start of the study as a baseline and after six months of participation in the study. Participants were also contacted three months into the research to encourage their ongoing adherence to the study parameters. “This is first-of-its-kind research that points to the potential ‘brain benefits’ of peanut and peanut butter consumption in a younger demographic,” explains Dr. Sterling. “The results show that a small addition to the diet can have a significant impact.”
Nuts and dried fruits have been no stranger to the subject of a healthy lifestyle, and as consumers increasingly search for healthy treats without wanting to sacrifice the indulgence factor, increasing the use nuts and dried fruits in confectionery products can help boost flavour and improve health compared to traditional sweetening methods. Dates are great for digestive health, pistachios can control blood sugar levels and reduce risk of diabetes, macadamias may help reduce bad cholesterol, dried cranberries help with UTI’s and walnuts can help prevent strokes. The opportunities are endless!
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