Features of peanut
The peanut was bred by man and does not occur in the wild. The country of origin is believed to be Peru, but currently China, Africa and India are the largest producers.
It is one of the most popular nuts in the world. Peanuts are actually legumes. It grows underground and the seeds are hidden in pods.
However, in terms of chemical composition and properties, they are similar to nuts. In common with nuts is their high fat content, which is why peanuts are used in the production of the world famous peanut butter. The various oils in peanuts are almost half the weight of the raw product,
The calorie content of peanuts is very high – more than 550 kcal per 100 g. This popular product is rich in antioxidants and unsaturated fatty acids.
Useful properties of peanuts
Peanuts are extremely rich in composition and high in valuable vitamins and minerals. We like peanuts raw and roasted, with salt or in numerous desserts, in the form of paste or butter. You can eat no more than 30–50 g of nutritious peanuts per day, which is about 60 nuts. A handful of this protein product provides all the necessary vitamins and minerals and will charge you for the whole day.
Are peanuts healthy? There are 567 kcal in 100 grams of peanuts, which makes it a high-calorie product. However, when consumed in reasonable amounts, they are a useful addition to the diet, and can have a beneficial effect on the state of the body. This healthy product contains many nutrients, rich in protein, fats and fiber. They have much more protein than other legumes such as beans, chickpeas or lentils.
Peanuts are a rich source of antioxidants, vitamins PP, B1 and selenium. It has a high content of vitamin E and B vitamins, as well as potassium, magnesium, manganese, zinc, copper and iron.
Eating peanuts can be beneficial for the cardiovascular system, reducing the risk of atherosclerosis and stroke. Helps lower bad cholesterol and triglycerides, while at the same time increasing good cholesterol levels.
Note! The high content of fiber and unsaturated fatty acids, as well as a low glycemic index are properties that are beneficial for weight-conscious people and for diabetics.
The high protein content helps build muscle. Arginine, contained in peanuts, is a valuable material for building muscle mass, increasing physical endurance. Useful for chronic fatigue, neurosis and depression, physical exhaustion.
Well suited for people who study and work mentally – due to the high content of magnesium and B vitamins. Vitamin B3 primarily supports the nervous system – calms nerves, relieves stress, makes it easier to fall asleep, etc.
Peanut promotes skin rejuvenation thanks to folic acid and vitamin E. Vitamin E not only strengthens the immune system, it accelerates tissue regeneration. It kills free radicals responsible for skin aging.
Walnut oil is a component of creams, lotions and face masks, nourishing, moisturizing and restoring skin elasticity. This is an excellent cancer prevention tool.
Peanut nut helps to restore the hormonal levels of both future parents. It is worth trying nuts to increase potency – the high content of arginine, which improves blood flow and dilates blood vessels, makes peanuts an excellent aphrodisiac.
In moderation, it is useful in diabetes, if the patient does not have an allergic reaction to it. because it controls blood sugar. Walnut helps to reduce blood sugar, helps to normalize blood pressure. Omega acids and amino acids maintain cholesterol levels, promote the production of enzymes and hormones, and iron does not allow blood hemoglobin to fall.
When losing weight, peanut oil reduces the feeling of hunger, it is widely used by overweight people. Possessing a mild choleretic and diuretic effect, it contributes to the timely emptying of the intestines, speeds up metabolism, which is why excess fat does not have time to accumulate.
The highest grades of good oil are used for the best varieties of canned fish, confectionery, margarine. Peanut butter of lower grades is used in soap making – this is how high-quality Marseille soap is obtained.
Unsaturated fatty acids will improve liver function, help in cleaning it during overeating and alcohol intoxication.
Peanuts for children
At what age can children eat peanuts ? Include nuts in the diet of babies by the age of three. You have to learn gradually. It is better to offer fried, de-husked treats.
Peanuts are recommended for underweight children during seasonal viral epidemics. It well stimulates the work of the brain at increased loads. The presence of calcium in the composition is responsible for the growth and strength of bones, nails and teeth, ensures the formation of correct posture.
Benefits after heat treatment
The mineral content of peanuts is greatly affected by the way they are processed. They lose some of their properties during heat treatment. Although we like to eat roasted peanuts with hot spices, the health benefits are unsalted and unroasted. Raw peanuts are more useful unshelled, because it is the skin that contains the most value.
The roasting processes of peanuts reduce their antioxidant activity and other nutrients such as iron, selenium, zinc, calcium, potassium or magnesium, as well as their vitamin content. Roasted peanut is not only tasty, but also extremely satisfying product, its energy value of 100 g (without additives) exceeds 550 kcal.
Note! To prevent heart disease, it is recommended only after heat treatment. In ischemia and atherosclerosis, roasted peanuts are more beneficial due to the fact that the polyphenol antioxidant in the raw product is a quarter less. than fried. Roast nuts should be without any additives and salt.
Drying peanuts significantly increases its calorie content due to the withdrawal of water, and this must be taken into account when calculating the required norm for nut consumption. In dried form, it is easier to remove a thin red skin from them when an allergy to it appears.
Peanut products and their benefits
Not all peanut derivatives are equally useful, you should know which foods you can safely eat, and which you should try to avoid. People with peanut allergies need to be especially careful.
The most popular peanut product is peanut butter. Cold-pressed oil contains many vitamins and minerals, polyunsaturated fatty acids.
Many manufacturers add them to their products. This is especially true for confectionery. Sweets based on peanuts are considered not healthy.
Nut butter is good for children’s breakfast. It can be spread on bread, added to sauces and eaten with hot dishes. Peanut butter is a high protein product suitable for vegetarians who do not get animal protein.
Peanut halva is also popular. In addition to ground roasted nuts, it contains honey or molasses, so in small quantities it is very useful.
Peanut sherbet is recommended for heart, liver, kidney and vision health. Due to the high calorie content, it is harmful for obesity. It should also be excluded from the menu for pregnant and lactating mothers and people with allergic reactions to peanuts.
Pickled fruits normalize blood pressure. For their preparation, raw nuts with a peel are kept for a day in six percent vinegar, and after that they eat ten a day.
What is dangerous peanuts
When using peanuts, it is worth considering the peculiarities of its effect on the body, depending on gender, age and health status.
Important! Peanut allergy is one of the most common food allergies and can be accompanied by digestive symptoms, shortness of breath, or skin rashes. Nut protein is one of the eight most aggressive allergens, its thin protective skin is especially dangerous in this sense.
For many people, eating large amounts of nuts is associated with digestive problems due to their high fiber content. Bloating or heartburn may occur. Due to the excessive load on the digestive organs, a high-calorie product is not recommended for pancreatitis. It is able to suppress the activity of enzymes, which is fraught with disorders of the intestines.
Eating too many peanuts can certainly lead to weight gain because they are high in calories. The problem can also be an imbalance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, especially in the case of an unbalanced diet. A side effect of eating peanuts is the ability to accumulate uric acid salts. With arthritis, gout, arthrosis, this will aggravate the situation, leading to the destruction of bone and connective tissue.
