Peanuts are not just for elephants, there for people too. In fact, peanuts contain nutrients that are beneficial to your health, which is especially true if they are eaten in their raw form and not as sugary peanut butter, peanut brittle, peanut oil or candy forms.
What are the beneficial nutrients in peanuts?
- Vitamins E, C and B Complex
- Minerals such as Manganese, Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sodium, Zinc, Selenium and Copper
- Protein
- Omega-6 Fatty Acids
- Fiber
- Carbohydrates for Energy
- Natural Sugars
What health benefits do the nutrients and peanuts provide?
- Eating raw unsalted and unsweetened peanuts is beneficial to your cardiovascular health due to the high amount of hearty healthy fats they contain.
- Peanuts also contain loads of antioxidants, which are essential for fighting off free radical cells that cause DNA damage, cancers, inflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases and signs of aging.
- Best of all, peanuts contain plenty of fiber, which is essential for keeping the digestion system and intestines staying healthy and staying free from certain types of cancers such as stomach and colon.
- Consuming raw peanuts on a regular basis also helps prevent gallstones, Alzheimer’s disease and weight gain.
- Pregnant women can also benefit from eating peanuts during early pregnancy due to the high amount of folate in them, which is essential for preventing neural tube defects in newborn babies.
- Some people have even found eating raw peanuts; helps fight depression, memory loss, type 2 diabetes, paralysis, arthritis, acne, bleeding disorders and autoimmune disorders.
What are some of the best ways to eat raw peanuts?
- Raw as they are
- Tossed over leafy green salads
- In protein smoothies or shakes
- Over a dish of low-fat yogurt
- Served up in a stir-fry
- Mixed in with an unsalted trail mix that consist of fruits and other nuts
- Added to homemade granola or protein bars
- Toss into breakfast cereals such as oatmeal
- Placed in healthy casserole dishes
- Ground up to make raw peanut butter, which can be served on whole snacks such as apples or celery
- Crushed up and sprinkled over low-fat ice cream or sliced bananas for a healthy sweet treat
Who should avoid peanuts?
Those with serve peanut allergies should avoid eating this groundnut. If you are unsure, if you have a peanut allergy or not, it is best to get that checkout by a doctor first before consuming the nuts. Peanuts have been known to cause serious allergic reactions that have led to death in some individuals.
Bottom Line for the Health Benefits of Peanuts
Consuming raw peanuts on a regular basis will do more good than harm. After all, it is a myth that you can get fat off peanuts. However, it is not a myth that salted, sweetened, roasted and candied peanuts, because more harm then good to the body. In addition, keep in mind, moderations with all foods is important to a well-balanced diet that helps keep the body healthy and strong.
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