Peanuts are one of the most popular snacks in the world. They are crunchy, delicious, and often considered a healthy choice.

But a new study from the University of Liverpool shows that people with cancer may need to be more careful about eating peanuts.

The reason is a protein found in peanuts called peanut agglutinin, or PNA. When you eat peanuts, this protein can enter your bloodstream. Researchers have found that PNA causes the body to release certain chemicals called cytokines. These cytokines, including IL-6 and MCP-1, can create a problem for people with cancer.

These specific cytokines make the lining of blood vessels more attractive to cancer cells. This facilitates the spread of cancer to other parts of the body, which patients and doctors are trying to prevent. In other words, eating peanuts may facilitate the spread of cancer cells in the bloodstream.

This is not the first time these researchers have studied PNA. In an earlier study, they found that PNA behaves like Velcro. It sticks to certain sugar chains found mainly in cancerous and precancerous cells. This stickiness helps cancer cells stick together and survive in the blood, facilitating the spread of cancer.

So, should you stop eating peanuts altogether? Not necessarily. The scientists are not claiming that peanuts are harmful to everyone. For healthy people, peanuts can still be a good snack. But if you have cancer or are recovering from it, it may be wise to reduce your peanut consumption. This is something you should discuss with your doctor.

The researchers, led by Lu-Gang Yu, say more studies are needed to understand how serious the risk is. We still don't know exactly how much eating peanuts may increase the risk of cancer spreading. However, this initial finding is something worth paying attention to, especially for cancer patients.

The study was published in the journal Carcinogenesis. It is part of ongoing work to better understand how food and nutrients affect cancer. | BGNES