ALBANY, Ga–The American Heart Association has certified select peanuts with the Heart-Check mark to make it easy for consumers to identify heart-healthy foods. Due to the strength of evidence of peanuts and heart-health, the FDA released a qualified health claim for peanuts over a decade ago. Peanuts now also meet the The American Heart Association’s strict criteria for a heart-healthy food and are among the list of foods certified with the Heart-Check mark.

“According to research from the American Heart Association the world’s leading voluntary health organization devoted to fighting cardiovascular disease, 75 percent of consumers report they are familiar with the Heart-Check symbol,” said John Powell, Executive Director of the The Peanut Institute. “We are pleased the AHA has awarded the peanut with such an important mark and that more people will realize the many health benefits of eating peanuts daily.”

AHA-certified nuts must meet specific nutritional levels. Some brands of oil-roasted salted peanuts meet these nutritional criteria, just look for the Heart-Check mark. Peanuts are naturally very low in sodium and most of the sodium in salted peanuts comes from surface salt. One ounce of salted peanuts typically contains less sodium than a slice of bread.

Four large studies totaling over 160,000 men and women showed that eating about one ounce of peanuts daily can cut the risk of heart disease in half.