According to new research published this week, unless you suffer from a horrible peanut allergy, eating peanuts or other types of nuts can actually save your life.

Researchers found that eating just a handful of nuts could reduce your risk of dying in the next decade by as much as 23 percent.

The new study found that eating just 15 grams of nuts or peanuts each day can reduce a person's risk of dying from a number of major diseases that include diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks or strokes. Eating just a handful of nuts can also reduce the risk of death from respiratory diseases including asthma and emphysema, and has been shown to reduce the risk of dementia and other neurodegenerative disease.

"It was remarkable that substantially lower mortality was already observed at consumption levels of 15g of nuts or peanuts on average per day, half a handful," said Professor Piet van den Brandt, from Maastricht University, who led the study. "A higher intake was not associated with further reduction in mortality risk."

The researchers, however, did not find that either sex benefited more than the other by choosing nuts for a snack. But it did find that even though the health benefits of different types of nuts is widely debated, a person saw the same benefits from eating peanuts or eating tree nuts such as cashews, almonds or pecans.

These same beneficial effects can't be said about peanut butter, however. Researchers were unable to find any protective effects in the tasty spread and believe this could be due to the added salt and vegetable oils found in the products.

Researchers also found that those who actually ate more nuts tended not to smoke, were younger, ate more vegetables, had lower blood pressure, and, in women, tended to be slimmer. Researchers said they controlled for these effects in an attempt to remove any potential bias.

But not everyone is convinced. If there was some magical nutrient only found in nuts that would extend your life, you would think that eating more of them would be even more beneficial. But the study found no such results.

"This paper shows peanuts to be more likely another nutritional marker of a more healthful diet, not that peanuts prevent us from dying prematurely," said Catherine Collins, a dietician at St Georges Hospital NHS Trust.

So how can you add more nuts to your diet without going over board? Try sprinkling almonds on top of fruit or yogurt. If you prefer your nuts plain, carefully measure the proper serving before you start snacking.