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Why Peanuts May Cause Digestive Problems: 3 Reasons

Why Peanuts May Cause Digestive Problems: 3 Reasons
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Updated on July 31, 2025
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Peanuts are packed with protein, fiber, and healthy fats.

 But some people get gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms like gas, bloating, cramping, or constipation after they eat these legumes. (Despite their name, peanuts aren't actually nuts.)

Supriya Rao, MD, a gastroenterologist with Tufts Medicine Lowell General Hospital in Massachusetts, says it’s not common to have digestive issues after you eat a handful of peanuts. But there are a few reasons as to why this may be your experience.

1. Peanuts Are Relatively High in Fiber

High-fiber foods have big health benefits. But if you eat a lot of fiber at once when your body isn't used to it, you could get gas and bloating, Dr. Rao says.

There are only 2.4 grams (g) of fiber in a 1-ounce (oz) serving of peanuts, so grabbing handful after handful can add up. A cup of peanuts packs 12 g of fiber, or close to half of what you need in a day.

That's enough to cause symptoms, Rao says.

If you've gotten GI issues in the past from eating peanuts, you may be able to reduce your symptoms next time by staying mindful of your portions. Try to stick to a 1-oz serving of peanuts, or a small handful.

2. Certain Popular Flavors Are High in Sugar

Eating a lot of sugar in one sitting might mess with your belly, too.

"The sugar can interact with your gut bacteria and cause gas and bloating," Rao says.

That's not a concern with plain peanuts. But if you have a large helping of honey-roasted peanuts or another sweetened variety, you might accidentally take in a stomach-churning amount of the sweet stuff: 24 g in a 1-cup (c) serving. That's more added sugar than what you'd get in a chocolate doughnut, for example.

3. You Could Be Allergic to Peanuts

Peanuts are one of the most common food allergens. Eating even a tiny amount could trigger stomach cramps, vomiting, or diarrhea if you have a peanut allergy or intolerance.

Sometimes, digestive symptoms from an allergic reaction happen with other issues like wheezing, coughing, hives, throat tightness, or swelling. Eating peanuts also can cause an allergic person to get anaphylaxis, a life-threatening reaction that requires emergency medical care.

When to See a Doctor

Let your doctor know if you consistently have gas, bloating, or other GI symptoms after you eat peanuts (or any food, really). Together, you can talk through your symptoms. Then your doctor can figure out whether you have an underlying health condition that needs treatment.

The Takeaway

  • Eating lots of peanuts at once can cause gas and bloating, especially if your body isn't used to getting a high amount of fiber.
  • Sweetened peanut varieties, like honey-roasted, can contain enough added sugar to upset your stomach by affecting gut bacteria.
  • Persistent digestive issues after eating peanuts, including cramps or vomiting, could indicate a peanut allergy, which requires medical care.

Common Questions & Answers

Are peanuts inflammatory?

There's no evidence that peanuts cause or worsen inflammation. In fact, they contain anti-inflammatory compounds that can help lower your risk for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high blood sugar.

“Peanuts are a very healthy food,” Rao says. “They're a staple around the world and are integral to many different cuisines.”

Peanuts are high in fiber, which is good for gut health. Eating peanuts can support regular bowel movements, Rao says. It also can lower your risk for flares of diverticulitis if you've had this condition that affects the colon, she says.

Eating peanuts also may lower your chances of colon cancer: A 2018 study found that people who ate three or more servings of nuts per week (including peanuts) were around 30 percent less likely to develop colon cancer compared with those who ate no nuts.

No. Doctors used to recommend that people with diverticula — small, bulging pouches that form in the lining of the digestive tract — steer clear of nuts, seeds, and popcorn. They believed that these foods could get trapped in the pouches and cause inflammation, leading to diverticulitis.

But eating peanuts doesn't cause diverticulitis, Rao says.

EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. The Health Benefits of Nuts. Cleveland Clinic. January 17, 2023.
  2. Peanuts, unroasted. U.S. Department of Agriculture. October 28, 2022.
  3. Peanuts, honey roasted. U.S. Department of Agriculture. October 28, 2022.
  4. Doughnut, chocolate. U.S. Department of Agriculture. October 28, 2022.
  5. Peanut. American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. June 1, 2022.
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Yuying Luo, MD

Medical Reviewer

Yuying Luo, MD, is an assistant professor of medicine at Mount Sinai West and Morningside in New York City. She aims to deliver evidence-based, patient-centered, and holistic care for her patients.

Her clinical and research focus includes patients with disorders of gut-brain interaction such as irritable bowel syndrome and functional dyspepsia; patients with lower gastrointestinal motility (constipation) disorders and defecatory and anorectal disorders (such as dyssynergic defecation); and women’s gastrointestinal health.

She graduated from Harvard with a bachelor's degree in molecular and cellular biology and received her MD from the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. She completed her residency in internal medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where she was also chief resident. She completed her gastroenterology fellowship at Mount Sinai Hospital and was also chief fellow.

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Marygrace Taylor

Marygrace Taylor

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Marygrace Taylor is a health writer and editor based in Philadelphia. Her work has appeared in publications including Parade, Glamour, Women's Health, Prevention, Redbook, Men's Health, and O, The Oprah Magazine. She's also the coauthor of Eat Clean, Stay Lean: The Diet and Prevention Mediterranean Table.
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