New Delhi, Dec 03 (ANI): According to new Penn State research, eating an ounce of peanuts or a teaspoon of herbs and spices daily may influence the composition of gut flora, which is a sign of overall health. In two separate studies, nutritional scientists studied the effects of small changes to the average American diet and found improvements to the gut microbiome. The human gut microbiome is a collection of trillions of microorganisms that live inside the intestinal tract. The bacteria there can affect nearly all systems of the body, including metabolism and the building and maintaining of the immune system. For the peanut study, which published in the journal Clinical Nutrition, Kris-Etherton and her colleagues compared the effects of snacking on 28 grams (approx. 1 ounce) of peanuts per day, versus a higher carbohydrate snack--crackers and cheese. At the end of six weeks, participants who ate the peanut snack showed an increased abundance of Ruminococcaceae, a group of bacteria linked to healthy liver metabolism and immune function.