A handful of peanuts a day may help prevent food poisoning, a study has found.
Eating peanuts without their skins can improve gut health and the ability to ward off bugs like E.coli, according to the research.
Scientists from the University of Maryland found that flour made from peanut kernel significantly stimulated the growth of Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus rhamnosus, the type of friendly bacteria more commonly associated with yoghurt drinks.
By increasing the amount of good bacteria, the peanut flour was able to reduce the amount of a dangerous bacterium, Enterohaemorrhagic E.coli, which can cause severe food poisoning.
The friendly bacteria out-competes the harmful bacteria by occupying space on intestinal walls and by producing antimicrobial substances.
