Peanut butter boosts muscle strength in older adults, new study finds

Eating one food in particular every day can help increase muscle strength in the elderly, according to a new study.

Adults 65 and older who consume Three tablespoons of peanut butter Researchers at Deakin University in Australia found that their performance on a core lower-body function test improved over six months compared to a control group.

The study, published last month in the Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle, followed 120 older adults who lived alone and were at risk of falling.

While walking speed did not improve, those who ate natural peanut butter were able to sit and stand up from a chair five times in a row about 1.2 seconds faster than those who did not walk.

“In this test, we measured various aspects or dimensions of physical function, such as mobility, balance, Muscular strength and muscular endurance,” lead researcher Dr. Se-Yen Tan, associate professor of nutrition in Deakin University’s Institute of Physical Activity and Nutrition, told Fox News Digital.

Eating about three teaspoons of peanut butter daily may help increase muscle strength in older adults, a new study suggests. (iStock)

“The peanut butter intervention had a positive effect muscle strength, “Which is important for activities like getting out of a chair and climbing stairs – but it didn’t help older people walk faster,” said Tan.

The five-time sit-to-stand test measures lower body muscle strength and functional independence, according to the researchers.

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“An improvement of 1.23 seconds may seem small, but previous studies suggest that a difference of 1 second is clinically meaningful and could potentially be associated with less physical disability in the future,” Tan said.

Muscular strength — the ability to generate force quickly — is especially important for preventing falls, experts say.

Experts say that a faster chair-rise time can improve lower body muscle strength. (iStock)

“Many real-world tasks that prevent falls, such as catching oneself during a trip or getting up quickly from a chair, rely heavily on rapid force production,” Dr. Sam Setreh, a cardiologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center said; He was not involved in the research.

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Participants in the peanut butter group also increased their protein and Consume healthy fats No weight gain for a period of six months.

in spite of encouraging results, Setareh cautioned that the improvement is modest.

Improved muscle strength can help with daily activities such as climbing stairs and getting out of a chair. (iStock)

“A change of this magnitude is small, but potentially relevant,” he said. “From a clinical standpoint, this is encouraging but not practice-changing.”

The study did not measure actual fall rates, fractures or hospitalizations, and found no improvement in overall strength.

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Researchers say Further studies are needed To determine whether improvements in muscle strength translate into fewer falls and whether frail or protein-deficient seniors may benefit more.

Tan emphasized that peanut butter should not be seen as a cure-all.

Peanut butter is an affordable and familiar pantry staple for many adults, experts note. (iStock)

“Eating 43 grams per day over six months was shown to be effective in increasing protein intake and muscle strength,” she said. “That could be part of it The usual diet of the elderly.”

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Peanut butter is an affordable and familiar option for most older adults, she noted, and it’s easy for those with dental problems to eat.

however, Increase protein intake Resistance and balance training is important, Setareh added.

Experts caution that eating peanut butter isn’t a cure-all — and should be paired with resistance training. (iStock)

“The optimal strategy for preventing falls combines adequate protein intake with progressive resistance and balance training,” he said.

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The trial was funded by The Peanut Institute, a nonprofit in Georgia — although Tan said the group was not involved in the study’s design, analysis or publication decisions.

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