Peanut butter 'wards off heart disease'

Peanut butter sandwiches, favoured by cartoon character Charlie Brown, could be the secret to beating heart disease, according to new research. A study in the US reveals snacking on peanuts or peanut butter at least five days a week can nearly halve the risk of a heart attack. A team of experts at Harvard Medical School in Boston came up with the findings after studying the eating habits of thousands of women with type two diabetes. The condition dramatically increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Poor diet and lifestyle has led to a surge in the numbers affected by type two diabetes in the UK, up from 1.5 million five years ago to 2.25 million. The latest findings, published in the Journal of Nutrition, support earlier studies on the cardiovascular benefits of peanuts and peanut products. - Mail