Nutritionists from the University of Pennsylvania in the US have discovered that a handful of peanuts and spices improve bowel function – two studies of the scientists have been published in journals. Clinical Nutrition and Nutrition Journal.
The initial study involved 54 volunteers. For four weeks, all subjects adhered to a specific diet. They were divided into several groups: the first had to add 0.5 grams of spice mixture to the dishes, the second – 3.3, the third – 6.6 grams, and the fourth ate without spices and acted as a control group.
The spice mix included cinnamon, ginger, cumin, turmeric, rosemary, thyme, basil, and thyme.
The scientists then compared stool samples taken before and after the experiment. It seems that diets high in spices increase bacterial diversity, which in turn improves gut health.
In the second study, the scientists examined the effect of peanuts on the gut microbiota. The study was conducted over six weeks and included 50 adults following the same daily diet. At the end of each day, before bed, participants ate either 28 grams of dry-roasted unsalted peanuts or a small piece of cheese and crackers.
At the end of the study, the group that ate nuts had significantly more bacteria in their guts. That’s why herbs, spices and peanuts are natural prebiotics that feed the beneficial bacteria in the human gut.