Is a Peanut Healthy?
What is a peanut’s nutrition profile? Exactly what’s in a peanut, no-not what’s in the peanut shell? What makes a peanut nutritious? Despite what people commonly think, peanuts are a very good source of monounsaturated fats, the type of fat that is emphasized in the heart-healthy Mediterranean diet. Did you know they’re not even really a nut?
In addition to their monounsaturated fat content, peanuts feature an array of other nutrients that, in numerous studies, have been shown to promote heart health. Peanuts nutrition profile includes good sources of vitamin E, niacin, folate, protein and manganese. Also, peanuts provide oleic acid and resveratrol, the antioxidant found in red wine.
In fact, the May 2005 Journal of Food Chemistry stated peanuts have more antioxidants than many fruits (like strawberries, applies and blackberries)!
Peanuts Nutrition & Chemical Composition
Check out this list of nutrients in peanuts. Consider this the chemical composition of peanuts:
- Arginine (which helps to improve the blood flow through the vessels)
- B Vitamins (a peanut antioxidant),
- Copper
- Fiber (which helps you fell full)
- Folate
- Goitrogens (high in these substances that suppress the function of the thyroid gland by interfering with iodine uptake)
- Magnesium
- Manganese
- Myo-inositol, sometimes called Vitamin B-8. (reduces the symptoms of OCD, panic acttacks and depression.)
- Niacin, also known as Vitamin B-3 (helps prevent Alzheimer’s Disease)
- Oleic Acid (lowers cholesterol)
- Oxalates (high in these naturally occurring substances that cause some folks aggravation and pain)
- Phytic Acid (inositol hexaphosphate)
- Phytosterols including beta-sisterol. (exhibit anti-cancer benefits Polyphenols like Resveratrol, another peanut antioxidant and P-coumaric acid, which increases greatly after roasting)
- Potassium
- Protein (25% of a peanut is protein)
- Selenium
- Tryptophan
- Vitamin E (a peanut antioxidant)
- Zinc
*Aflatoxin is not an ingredient but a myotoxin produced by fungus that commonly infects peanuts. While it’s not natural to the peanut, virtually all sources of commercial peanut butter contain minute quantities of aflatoxin.
Are Peanuts Healthy
We explore that question more at Are Peanuts Healthy, but we do know that a single cup of peanuts can have around 900 calories in it, which is more than 2 McDonald’s Big Macs.
Whether it’s healthy fat or not, we suggest getting all the health benefits from peanuts in a supplement.
From Peanuts Nutrition to Are Peanuts Healthy
Learn About The Benefits of Resveratrol