Who doesn’t love Peanuts? They are very delicious no matter whether you add them into a dish or eat them separately. What you might not know is that Peanuts are one of the so called “super foods”. They provide your body with a great number of nutrients and help you become an overall healthy person. Studies show that peanuts may be useful for weight loss, and are linked to reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.
There are many interesting facts you should know about these legumes. The fact that Peanuts are actually Legumes and not nuts as many seem to believe is one of them. Here are a few others:
- Protein and fiber: Peanuts improve satiety & helps in weight loss. Several studies have found that eating small amounts of nuts helps dieters lose weight; when nuts were included in their diet plans, they did not feel deprived.
- Anti aging: Peanuts have been found to contain the potent anti aging molecule resveratrol, the same phytochemical found in red wine and grapes. Studies have shown that resveratrol can fight the proliferation of fat cells and improve the uptake of sugar from the blood. The resveratrol in peanuts is found in the seed itself and the skin.
- Nutrients: Peanuts are abundant in the vitamins niacin, thiamin, folate, pantothenic acid, choline, riboflavin, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin E and are rich in minerals like magnesium, zinc, iron, copper, phosphorous, potassium, manganese and selenium.
- Cholesterol: When postmenopausal women with high cholesterol were given a low-fat diet that included healthy fats from peanuts, their cholesterol improved. The phytosterols that peanuts contain have been shown to reduce cholesterol.
- Disease control: Studies suggest that eating peanuts five times a week decreased heart disease and reduced the risk of diabetes, gallbladder disease & colorectal cancer. Peanuts and peanut butter are included on the DASH diet eating plan, which helps lower blood pressure.
Another interesting tidbit: The health benefits are not limited to just the peanut itself. In hamster studies, Peanut oil and fat-free peanut flour have shown to significantly lower cholesterol and have heart-protective effects.
Summary
Peanuts are as popular as they are healthy.
They can be useful as a part of a weight loss diet and may reduce the risk of both gallstones and heart disease.
They are an excellent plant-based source of protein & are high in various vitamins, minerals and plant compounds.
However, being high in fat, peanuts are high-calorie foods & should not be consumed in excess.
Questions?