If you have missed out or were not aware of peanuts’ health benefits, then it is not too late still. The benefits of peanuts are multitude. Peanuts have the highest amount of protein than any other legume. They are packed with many minerals and vitamins that are great for your heart. Let us see how you can benefit from adding peanuts to your diet.
What Should I Know About Peanuts’ Health Benefits?
Peanuts bring along with it the below nutrients:
- Healthy Fats
Healthy fats constitute monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats that are good for your health. On the contrary, saturated and trans fats are bad for your health. Consumption of healthy fats has been linked to improved blood cholesterol levels, thereby reducing the risk of stroke and heart disease.
- Protein
Protein is essential for the body to build and repair the cells of the body. It is essential to know that the amount of protein a body needs is dependent on age as well as the level of activity they do in their daily life. Around 100g of peanuts are packed with a good 25.8g of protein. If you are a woman, then the daily recommended dosage of protein is 46g. If you are a man, then the daily recommended dosage of protein is 56g.Thus, if you are looking for a good protein source, then peanuts are perfect for it.
- Dietary Fiber
Having fiber in your diet is very crucial. Why? Because fiber has been linked to improved bowel movements, reduced cholesterol levels, controlled blood sugar levels, reduced weight as well as overall well-being.
What Are The Types Of Peanuts Available?
Let us look into the wide variety of peanuts that you can choose from: Runner These are mainly grown in Florida, Georgia, Texas, Alabama, and Oklahoma. It is known for the uniform size of the kernel. Virginia The kernel size of this peanut is large. The majority of the roasted peanuts that people consume are made of this type of peanuts. In its shelled form, Virginia peanuts are used as gourmet snack peanuts. Spanish These small kernel peanuts are used in peanut butter and snack nuts. They are majorly used in making peanut candies. If you want to obtain peanut oil, then Spanish peanuts are perfect for it. Valencia Valencia is sweet peanuts. They taste great in boiled form but also taken in roasted form. It is majorly produced in New Mexico. Let us now get into the detail of how the nutrients present in the peanuts benefit your body.
How Do The Nutrients In The Peanuts Affect Your Body?
Helps Maintain Weight Consuming peanuts makes your body feel fuller. Why? Because it consists of protein, fiber, and healthy fats. Thus, you tend to eat less after you consume peanuts, bringing your overall weight down. Helps In Having A Healthy Heart Since peanuts consist of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, they are perfect for ensuring you have a healthy heart. What’s great about peanut butter is that it has the perfect fat ratio that is needed for a healthy heart. Helps In Managing The Blood Sugar Level For people suffering from diabetes, peanuts are excellent food items to be added to their diets. Since they contain fewer carbohydrates, they help in maintaining the blood sugar level. The fiber in the peanuts ensures that the digestion process occurs at a steady pace with a gradual release of energy. You can be assured that your sugar levels stay stable as they have a low glycemic index (GI). If you are confused as to how to consume peanuts, worry not! We are here to help you. Soak the peanuts and have it first thing in the morning. But make sure that you do not go overboard with it as they are high in calories. It would be best to eat them in moderation. You can consume peanuts straight out of their shell. Make peanut butter, and you can apply it to bread and add it to your evening meal or breakfast routine. You can use peanuts in granola bars. You can even make a trail mix such as peanuts, coconut, cheerios, raisin, and mini-chocolate chips. What’s wonderful about peanuts is that you can even use them to top any dish you like, such as salads, oatmeals, or ice-creams.