Eating the skinless inner kernels of peanuts may improve a person’s gut flora and its ability to ward off E. coli and Salmonella, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Maryland published in the Journal of Food Science.
The findings suggest that skinless peanuts could be a beneficial promoter of gut bacteria that will outcompete pathogenic foodborne bacteria and reduce individual risk of illness. As a result, people with vulnerable gut conditions may benefit from eating skinless peanut kernels for their prebiotic-like effects.