Peanuts are a popular snack that many people enjoy. They taste good, are crunchy, and are often seen as a healthy food.
But a new study from the University of Liverpool has found something surprising. It may be important for people who have cancer or are recovering from it.
The study looked at a natural protein in peanuts called Peanut Agglutinin, or PNA. When people eat peanuts, a small amount of PNA can enter their blood.
Researchers found that PNA might change how blood vessels behave. It can cause the body to release chemicals called cytokines. Two of these chemicals—IL-6 and MCP-1—could help cancer spread from one place in the body to another.
Normally, blood vessels have thin walls made of cells that act like a gate, controlling what goes in and out of the blood. But PNA seems to make these walls more open.
It causes IL-6 and MCP-1 to be released, and these chemicals make it easier for cancer cells to stick to the vessel walls and pass through them. This can help cancer cells travel and grow in new parts of the body. This spreading is called metastasis.
In earlier work, the same scientists found that PNA sticks to special sugar molecules on the surface of cancer cells. These sugars are more common on cancer cells than on normal cells.
When PNA sticks to these sugars, it makes the cancer cells clump together. These clumps help the cancer survive as it moves through the blood. Later, they can settle in a new spot and grow into more cancer.
This does not mean that peanuts are bad for everyone. Most people can still enjoy peanuts as a healthy snack. They contain protein, good fats, and important vitamins and minerals. But if someone has cancer, especially a kind that spreads easily, this study suggests they might need to be careful.
The lead scientist, Dr. Lu-Gang Yu, said that this is just one study. More research is needed to understand how peanuts affect cancer. Scientists still need to learn how much PNA is taken in by the body and what happens over time.
If you or someone close to you is being treated for cancer, this study is something to think about. It could be helpful to talk to a doctor or dietitian about whether peanuts should be avoided during treatment.
This research was published in a science journal called Carcinogenesis. It will take more time and studies to understand the full story. Still, it’s a good reminder that even small things in our diet can have big effects on our health.
When you’re dealing with cancer, knowing more helps you make better choices. Deciding whether or not to eat peanuts might seem small, but it could be a helpful part of your care.
If you care about cancer, please read studies that artificial sweeteners are linked to higher cancer risk, and how drinking milk affects risks of heart disease and cancer.
For more health information, please see recent studies about the best time to take vitamins to prevent heart disease, and results showing vitamin D supplements strongly reduces cancer death.
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