Peanuts

2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29

Peanuts (Arachis hypogaea) are actually legumes such as peas, lentils and beans.

They grow in a unique way. They begin to grow like a flower sprouting above the ground, which later, due to its weight, digs in and begins to grow underground. This is where peanuts begin to grow.

There are different types of peanutsbut the most common in stores are Virginia, Spanish peanuts and Valencia. Due to their high protein content and rich chemical profile, peanuts are processed and made into a variety of products, such as peanut butter, peanut oil, peanut flour and more.

Peanuts originated in South America, where they have existed for thousands of years. They played an important role in the diet of the Aztecs and other native Indians in South America and Mexico.

The Spanish and Portuguese sailors who discovered the peanuts growing in the New World brought them to Africa, from where they spread to the rest of the world. Today, the leading peanut growers are India, China, Nigeria, Indonesia and the United States.

Composition of peanuts

Peanuts are very rich of B vitamins, especially B1, B3 and B9; in the raw state are a valuable source of magnesium, iron and phosphorus, zinc and potassium. Peanuts contain resveratrol, a natural antibiotic that some plants produce to protect themselves from bacteria and fungi.

Peanuts have a very low glycemic index and a low glycemic load of 1, which means that the carbohydrates in them are digested very slowly to glucose, and that a large amount of them needs to be ingested to increase insulin.

IN 100 g of peanuts are contained 26.77 g carbohydrates, 45.97 g fat and 21.35 g protein.

Selection and storage of peanuts

- If you buy peanuts packaged, check that the package is hermetically sealed to make sure there are no traces of moisture.

- If possible, smell the peanuts to make sure they are not spoiled.

- Peanut butter should be placed in the refrigerator immediately after it has been opened.

Peanuts are susceptible to rapid spoilage due to the fungus they contain, but unfortunately in the initial phase this is invisible to the human eye. Therefore, during their selection one should be careful and buy only peanuts of clearly established origin.

Raw peanuts must be stored in the refrigerator. If they are still in their velvet shell, they can withstand refrigeration for up to 9 months. Without their shell, raw peanuts last three times less. They are frozen for up to half a year.

Roasted peanuts are stored in a cool, dry place, which is completely inaccessible to insects and rodents.

Peanuts in cooking

Peanuts can to be consumed independently between meals; used to add a number of salads; boiled peanuts are used in vegetable dishes or mashed. Peanuts are part of many cakes and desserts. Peanuts are used to make peanut flour, peanut oil and peanut butter.

Crushed large peanut seeds are used for sprinkling sweet and savory pastries. In cooking, peanuts are sometimes replaced by hazelnuts and almonds for confectionery.

Benefits of peanuts

- Peanuts are extremely good for the heart. Peanuts are rich of monounsaturated fats - the type of fat prevalent in the healthy diet of people from the Mediterranean. In addition, these nuts are a rich source of vitamin E, niacin, folate, protein and manganese. A study involving more than 86,000 women found that nuts significantly reduced the risk of cardiovascular disease.

- Peanuts work as an antioxidant. Not only do they contain oleic acid, the healthy acid found in olive oil, but they are as rich in antioxidants as most fruits.

- Peanuts are the key to the health of our heart! After conducting various studies, scientists advise that to reduce the risk of cardiovascular and coronary heart disease, it is enough to take a handful of peanuts or other nuts, or a spoonful of peanut butter at least four times a week.

- Reduce the risk of heart attack. Animal studies have shown that peanuts contain flavonoids called resveratrol, which reduce the risk of heart attack by up to 30% for people who eat peanuts frequently.

- Protect against colon cancer. Intake of peanuts 2 or more times a week is associated with a 58% reduced risk of colon cancer in women and 27% in men.

- They protect us from Alzheimer's and other age-related problems. Those who ate the most niacin (abundant in peanuts) were 70% less likely to develop Alzheimer's than those who ate niacin-poor foods.

- Protect against weight gain. Although nuts are known to give us many cardiovascular benefits, we often avoid them because we are worried about gaining weight. However, a recent study found that people who ate nuts at least twice a week were less likely to gain weight than those who did not eat nuts at all.

Harm from peanuts

Although allergic reactions can be caused by almost any type of food, it is known that some foods are associated with more allergies than others. About 90% of food allergies are associated with 8 types of food: tree nuts, fish, crustaceans, cow's milk, chicken eggs, soy products, peanuts and wheat.

Peanuts are also among the few foods that contain oxylates - natural substances found in plants, animals and the human body. When they become very concentrated in body fluids, they crystallize and can lead to some health problems. For this reason, people with kidney or bile problems should avoid eating peanuts.

If you love peanuts, check out these peanut recipes.