Peanuts are good old nutritive food that is often overlooked. Though known as ground nuts, it is not actually a nut. They are legumes, much closely related to soybeans and chickpeas. But they contain good amounts of fiber, protein, and healthy fats, similar to tree nuts such as almonds and walnuts. Benefits of peanuts are many because of its rich nutritional profile.
- Peanuts contain good amounts of vitamin E and vitamin B1 nutrients.
- Peanuts have high healthy fat content along with monosaturated fatty acids.
- They have high protein content along with other nutrients. Peanuts are excellent source of biotin and molybdenum.
- They also contain folate, magnesium, arginine, copper, and fiber.
Health Benefits of Peanuts
Peanuts offer a wide range of health benefits.
- Peanuts are also a good source of folate, which helps build stronger bones and protects against birth defects. It is also known to provide protection against several heart diseases and even cancer.
- The folic acid present in peanuts improves overall fertility for women during early stages of pregnancy.
- Peanuts contain antioxidants such as resveratrol. It is one of the richest sources of this special antioxidant, which is mostly found in grape juice and red wine. It has heart-protective properties and also cancer-preventive qualities. But you may not have heard that next to grape skins, peanuts are one of the richest sources of resveratrol. By the way, boiled peanuts contain ten times more resveratrol than in roasted ones or in peanut butter.
- Peanuts contain high phytosterols, which is a plant sterol that promotes healthy cholesterol levels. Eating phytosterols rich foods protects against various heart diseases. Recent researches show that these phytosterols are potential enough to fight cancer as well. Studies show that peanut consumption lowers the rates of colon cancer.
- Eating peanuts does not promote weight gain but improves heart-health. People who eat ground nuts twice a week are less likely to gain weight than those never eat it.
- Peanuts are good for gallbladder and lower the risk of gallstones and other gallbladder diseases.
- Peanuts are rich in niacin. Consumption of niacin-rich foods protects against age-related cognitive problems and Alzheimer’s disease.
- Regular peanut consumption also lowers the levels of triglycerides in the body, without any significant change in body weight.
- Peanuts provide nourishment to skin and hair as well. It reduces wrinkles and skin discoloration. Vitamin C in peanuts helps produce collagen and maintains skin elasticity. The omega 3 fatty acids in peanuts promotes healthy scalp, strengthening the roots.
Peanuts can be consumed in various ways such as boiled, roasted, or even as oil and butter. There are several individual concerns like peanut allergies in the recent decade due to its high oxalate content. Other than that, they are extremely healthy food with rich nutritive profile.