- Scientifically known as Arachis hypogea, peanuts go by a variety of names, such as groundnuts, earth nuts, and goobers. However, peanuts are technically not nuts. They actually belong to the legume family and are therefore related to beans, lentils, and soy.
- Peanuts are an excellent source of biotin. They are also a very good source of copper as well as a good source of manganese, niacin, molybdenum, folate, vitamin E, phosphorus, vitamin B1, and protein.
- Peanuts are a good source of protein.The protein content ranges from 22-30% of calories, making peanuts a rich plant-based protein source. The most abundant proteins in peanuts, arachin and conarachin, can be severely allergenic to some people, causing life-threatening reactions.
- Peanuts are low in carbs.In fact, the carb content is only about 13-16% of total weight .Being low in carbs and high in protein, fat, and fibers, peanuts have a very low glycemic index, which is a measure of how quickly carbs enter the bloodstream after a meal.This makes them particularly suitable for people with diabetes.
- A source of many heart-healthy nutrients, peanuts may help prevent heart disease. These include magnesium, niacin, copper, oleic acid, and various antioxidants, such as resveratrol.
- Gallstones affect approximately 10-25% of adults in the US. Two observational studies suggest that frequent peanut consumption may cut the risk of gallstones in both men and women .Most gallstones are largely composed of cholesterol. Therefore, the cholesterol-lowering effect of peanuts has been suggested to be a possible explanation .Further studies are needed to confirm these findings.
- Peanuts compose sufficient levels of mono-unsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), especially oleic acid. MUFA helps lower LDL or “bad cholesterol” and increaseS HDL or “good cholesterol” level in the blood. Research studies suggest that Mediterranean diet which is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids help to prevent coronary artery disease and stroke risk by favoring healthy blood lipid profile.
- Research studies have shown that peanuts contain high concentrations of poly-phenolic antioxidants, primarily p-coumaric acid. This compound has been thought to reduce the risk of stomach cancer by limiting formation of carcinogenic nitrosamines in the stomach.
- Peanuts are an excellent source of resveratrol, another polyphenolic antioxidant. Resveratrol has been found to have protective function against cancers, heart disease, degenerative nerve disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and viral/fungal infections. Furthermore, studies suggest that resveratrol may reduce stroke risk through altering molecular mechanisms in the blood vessels (reducing susceptibility to vascular damage through decreased activity of angiotensin, a systemic hormone responsible for blood vessel constriction that would elevate blood pressure), and by increasing production of vasodilator hormone, nitric oxide.
- Peanuts are an excellent source of vitamin E (a-tocopherol); containing about 8 g per100 g. vitamin E is a powerful lipid soluble antioxidant which helps maintain the integrity of cell membrane of mucus membranes and skin by protecting from harmful oxygen free radicals.
- The nuts are packed with many important B-complex groups of vitamins such as riboflavin, niacin, thiamin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B-6, and folates. 100 g of peanuts provide about 85% of RDI of niacin, which contribute to brain health and blood flow to brain.
We’re farmers and not doctors so none of this should be treated as medical advice for you. We’re only sharing our personal experience and testimony, which may not be relevant to your specific medical condition. Talk to your doctor about your own personal diet and care and please don’t sue us because we’re trying to help people in need and lawyers are super expensive and every dollar we spend on a lawyer can’t be spent helping others grow food. Thanks!!!
