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Peanuts Probably Can’t Slow Aging
An introduction to the dubious science of Big Peanut
If you write about science in the media for long enough, you start to notice themes. Headlines that come around regularly, because humans only care about so many things. You can see our collective consciousness move between topics like a slightly more wordy ocean, bringing the same driftwood into shore every once in a while.
My favourite of these themes is research funded by Big Food. There’s something uniquely funny about realizing that not only is there a Big Blueberry, but the organisation funds a range of scientific studies trying to prove that their products are especially healthsome and good for you.
This time, it’s the humble peanut’s turn. A new study has hit the headlines apparently showing that eating peanuts can slow down aging, lengthening your telomeres and making you almost immortal. The study comes courtesy of Big Peanut, or in this case the Peanut Institute. The Peanut Institute is a fairly opaque organisation that claims to be non-profit and exists to promote the consumption of peanuts. Their Marketing Director is listed on the Board of Directors of the industry group the American Peanut Council, but beyond that it is impossible to tell where exactly their funding comes from or even who they employ. I emailed the group, but haven’t…
