A recent six-month randomized controlled trial conducted at Deakin University’s IPAN in Melbourne, Australia, examined whether eating peanut butter daily could improve physical function in older adults. The results? While participants who added peanut butter to their diets saw improvements in lower-body power, there were no significant changes in walking speed or overall muscle mass. The findings suggest that while peanut butter can be part of a nutrient-dense eating pattern, maintaining strength and function as you age likely requires a combination of an overall healthful diet paired with regular strength-building movement. In other words, peanut butter alone won’t solve all your concerns about aging well–but it can be one part of a balanced approach.