How are peanuts good for you? There are tremendous benefits of eating peanuts and even cooking with peanut oil. Read on and you’ll be able to answer the question of how are peanuts good for you for yourself!
- There are a ton of basic nutrients in peanuts. One cup of peanuts contains lots of healthy fats, over a quarter of the potassium you need for the day, quality carbohydrates without refined sugars or grains, and lots of protein. A handful of peanuts, according to the Food and Drug Administration, is considered an excellent protein source.
- Peanuts vitamins and minerals are great. With peanuts, you can count on plenty of Vitamin E, the B complex vitamins, and minerals like potassium, manganese, copper, calcium, magnesium, iron, selenium, and zinc. A recent study looked at 15,000 children and adults in the United States and found that those who ate peanuts regularly had healthier diets overall than those who didn’t. They had higher daily allowances of vitamins A and E, folate, magnesium, zinc, iron, calcium, and dietary fiber.
- Peanuts have lots of valuable antioxidants. Peanuts and peanut oil are particularly rich in antioxidants, including polyphenolic antioxidants and resveratrol. How are peanuts good for you? They are one of nature’s most complete nutritional snacks.
- Peanuts are a weapon in the fight against disease. No miracle food can cure or prevent disease, but eating a healthy diet in general is one weapon in the battle. Peanuts have mono-unsaturated fatty acids that have been shown helpful in fighting off heart disease, and the antioxidants in peanuts and other foods are well known for their helpfulness in the fight against cancer.
- Peanuts are unlikely to make you fat. Of course, it’s possible to overeat any food, no matter how healthy it is, but women who eat peanuts or peanut butter at least twice a week have been shown to be less likely to become obese, all else being equal. The key here is to remember that just because some is good doesn’t mean more is better. A tablespoon or two of peanut butter every morning is a good thing: half a jar of peanut butter every morning is too much.
- Peanuts may help protect against gallstones. Gallstones can be painful and unpleasant, and in the worst cases can require gallbladder removal. Women, people who are overweight, those over the age of 40, and those eating too many refined carbohydrates are particularly at risk for gallstones. In a recent long-term study of nurses, however, researchers found that the risk of developing gallstones was 25% less among those who ate peanuts, all other things being the same. No one is completely sure just yet what about the peanuts is helpful, but it’s just another reason to have a handful every day.
How are peanuts good for you? They are full of nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They make a great and healthy snack that’s much better for healthy eating than cookies, crackers, chips and other typical snacks. They are great in and with almost anything, and they are even easy to grow yourself! Look for some peanut recipes you might like trying and pick up some of these nutritional powerhouses today.