Benefits of peanuts.
Benefits of Peanuts
Peanuts (Arachis hypogaea) are a legume that originated in South America.
They go by a variety of names, such as groundnuts, earthnuts, and goobers.
Despite their name, peanuts are unrelated to tree nuts. As a legume, they’re related to beans, lentils, and soy.
In the United States, peanuts are rarely eaten raw. Instead, they are most often consumed roasted or as peanut butter.
Other peanut products include peanut oil, flour, and protein. These goods are used in a variety of foods, such as desserts, cakes, confectionery, snacks, and sauces.
Nutrition Facts:
| Calories 130 | calories from fat 79
% Daily value |
| Total fat 8.8g
Saturated fat 2.6g Trans fat 0.0g |
13%
13% |
| Cholesterol 0mg | 0% |
| Sodium 69mg | 3% |
| Potassium 109mg | 3% |
| Total Carbohydrates 9.9g
Dietary fiber 1.8g Sugars 4.8g Protein 4.9g |
3%
7%
|
| Vitamin A2%
Calcium 7% |
Vitamin C 4 %
Iron 11% |
7 Health Benefits of Peanuts
-
Peanuts for Muscle
Peanuts contain B vitamins that increase energy, prevent muscle spasms and cramps, and help your body effectively absorb protein and fat. It also increase metabolism. These benefits make peanuts a perfect pre and post workout food.
2. Peanuts for low Cholesterol
The same nutrient which gives peanuts their memory enhancing power also helps lower and control cholesterol levels. Added to that is their copper contents which adds in reducing bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol levels.
3. Peanuts for Depression
It is good sources of tryptophan , an essential amino acid which is important for the production of serotonin, one of the key brain chemicals involved in mood regulation. When depression occurs, a decreased amount of serotonin may be released from the nerve cells in the brain. Tryptophan may raise serotonin’s antidepressant effects when there is an increased amount of serotonin in the blood.
4. Peanuts for Memory
Do you know what can be found in peanuts that gave them the “brain food tag”? This is due to their vitamin B3 or niacin content whose many health benefits include normal brain functioning and boosting memory power.
5. Peanuts for Protein
It have very high protein content and significant amounts of iron, zinc, magnesium and other vitamins such as vitamin D . In particular, their high protein and iron content makes them an excellent replacement for red meat in any diet, particularly for vegans and vegetarians.
6. Peanuts for Weight loss
Surprise eating nuts regularly in associated with a lowered risk of weight gain. Research has shown that people who eat nuts twice weekly are much less likely weight than those who almost new.
7. Peanuts for Fertility
It contain a good amount of folate. Women who had daily intake of 400 micrograms of folic acid before and during early pregnancy reduced their risk of having a baby born with a serious neural tube defect by up to 70%.
Adverse effects and individual concerns
Aside from allergies, eating peanuts has not been linked to many adverse effects.
Still, there are some health concerns to consider.
Aflatoxin poisoning
Peanuts can sometimes be contaminated with a species of mold (Aspergillus flavus) that produces aflatoxin.
The main symptoms of aflatoxin poisoning include loss of appetite and yellow discoloration of the eyes (jaundice), which are typical signs of liver problems.
Serious aflatoxin poisoning can lead to liver failure and liver cancer .
The risk of aflatoxin contamination depends on how peanuts are stored. The risk increases with warm and humid conditions, especially in the tropics.
Aflatoxin contamination can be effectively prevented by properly drying peanuts after harvesting and keeping temperature and humidity low during storage .
Antinutrients
Peanuts contain a number of antinutrients, which are substances that impair your absorption of nutrients and reduce nutritional value.
Of the antinutrients in peanuts, phytic acid is particularly noteworthy.
Phytic acid (phytate) is found in all edible seeds, nuts, grains, and legumes. In peanuts, it ranges from 0.2–4.5% .
Phytic acid reduces the availability of iron and zinc in peanuts, lowering their nutritional value slightly .
This is usually not a concern in well-balanced diets and among those who eat meat regularly.
Peanut allergy
Peanuts are one of the most common food allergens.
Allergy to peanuts is estimated to affect approximately 1% of Americans
Peanut allergies are potentially life-threatening, and peanuts are sometimes considered the most severe allergen .
People with this allergy should avoid all peanuts and peanut products.
tasty peanut recipe.
