Eating nuts and peanuts reduces the risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke , a new study claims . Researchers found they were linked with a reduced risk of death from heart disease among people on low incomes . And they believe their findings suggest peanuts may be a cost-effective measure to improve cardiovascular health because they are so cheap . However experts cautioned today that salt-covered nuts would not have the same health benefits . Scroll down for video . Nuts reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke - and could be an easy , cost-effective way to prolong life . Nuts are rich in nutrients and peanuts , although classified as legumes , have nutrients similar to tree nuts . The new study , led by Dr Xiao-Ou Shu , of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine , Tennessee , analysed various groups of people . One involved 72,000 low-income black and white men and women living in the US , the other 134,000 men and women living in Shanghai , China . In both groups , men ate more peanuts than women . In the US group , about half of the nuts consumed were peanuts , and in the Chinese group only peanut consumption was assessed . Catherine Collins , Principal Dietitian at St George 's Hospital NHS Trust , said : . 'Research over the past few years has shown heart-health benefits of including nuts and legumes ( like peanuts ) as part of a varied diet . 'This is probably because nuts and peanuts contribute a valuable source of protein , dietary fibres , healthy fats , vitamins B1 , B6 , folic acid , vitamin E , magnesium and zinc to the diet . Although almost half the weight of a peanut is fat ( 48 % ) , the majority is of the heart-healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated types . Studies where nuts have been added to the diet ( such as the European PREDIMED study ) , and long-term population studies have consistently shown a reduction in death from heart disease when nuts and legumes are included in the diet . The researchers found that across the board , eating nuts reduced the risk of death from heart disease . This was regardless of gender , race , BMI , smoking , alcohol consumption and conditions such as diabetes , high blood pressure and obesity . In the US , the highest consumption resulted in a risk reduction of 21 per cent . In the Chinese group , it was 17 per cent . Dr Shu said : 'We observed no significant associations between nut or peanut consumption and risk of death due to cancer and diabetes . ' She added the findings highlight the large public health impact of nut or peanut consumption in lowering deaths from heart disease - especially given their affordability . The research was published in JAMA Internal Medicine . Dr Mitchell Katz , deputy editor of the journal , added : 'Of course , peanuts are not really nuts - they are legumes since they grow in bushes , unlike tree nuts . Nuts reduced the risk of death regardless of gender , race , BMI , smoking , alcohol consumption and conditions such as diabetes , high blood pressure and obesity . 'But who cares if they help us to live longer at an affordable price ? ' However experts have cautioned that people should not start eating 'large quantities ' of nuts and peanuts in light of the research . Commenting on the findings , Professor Peter Weissberg , medical director at the British Heart Foundation , said : 'This large study found that death rates from heart attacks were lower in people who eat nuts , particularly peanuts , than in those who do n't . 'However , the data do not show that the more peanuts you eat the lower the risk of a fatal heart attack , so people should not start eating large quantities of nuts , particularly salted nuts , in the hope that it will protect them from heart disease . 'The results suggest that including a modest amount of nuts as part of a well-balanced diet may be of benefit . '
Peanuts may be a ' cost - effective tool to improve public health ' Not only are they cheap , they are readily available , researchers pointed out . benefits held regardless of gender , race , BMI and other health conditions . But using salted pork does not help , say researchers commenting on study .