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See also: Peanut Butter Cake - Peanut Butter - Peanut Oil
Peanuts - What Are They?
The peanut is a grassy plant belonging to the Fabaceae (or legume) family, originally from Brazil and cultivated all over the world. The edible seeds of this plant are subject to an "intense agricultural and industrial activity.
In America, peanuts are mostly consumed in the form of a buttery preparation called peanuts butter. This food is not very common in Europe where roasted peanut seeds are mainly consumed. On the market there are both toasted wooden pods and shelled, salted and possibly chopped preparations.
Nutritional values
Nutritional Properties
From a nutritional point of view, peanuts enjoy some interesting characteristics. First of all, they have an excellent protein content and a moderate amino acid profile (they are among the foods richest in arginine). Peanut seeds are rich in certain minerals such as zinc, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, manganese and copper. The fiber content (25 g / 100 g of food) and vitamin E is also particularly high.
Despite being cholesterol-free, peanuts are very rich in lipids and in particular in oleic acid, the same present in large quantities in olive oil.
The sodium content is extremely low but rises significantly in shelled, roasted and salted peanut snacks. Such snacks are dangerous for those suffering from hypertension and for those who particularly care about their figure. Although salt is calorie-free, its consumption stimulates thirst which, especially when you are in a bar or restaurant, is often satisfied with sugary or alcoholic drinks. In these cases, in addition to the very high caloric content of salted peanuts (669 Kcal / 100 g), it is necessary to add that of the soft drink, on average between 50 and 150 Kcal. Despite appearances, a simple and harmless aperitif with friends, surrounded by some appetizer, can thus cover, alone, about 1/3 of the daily caloric requirement.
Despite being a food with excellent properties, peanuts are not fully compatible with a low-calorie diet. However, they can become so if taken in small doses (15-20 g) to balance a snack too rich in carbohydrates. A medium-sized apple (about 2 ounces), together with 20 grams of peanuts, provides 200 calories, 6 grams of fiber, 6 of proteins, 10.5 of fats and 24 of carbohydrates. The combination of these two foods greatly increases the satiating power of the snack.
Peanuts, Allergies and Health
When buying peanuts it is good to choose quality products, being wary of low-cost ones. The woody pods must be intact, crunchy and beautiful in appearance. Peanuts are in fact a food at risk of aflatoxins, substances of microbial origin that seem to be involved in the onset of very serious diseases such as liver cirrhosis and various forms of cancer. If once the pod is opened the seeds appear altered (dark, completely or partially covered with a greyish powder) it is good to throw them away.
In the people allergic to peanuts the consumption of this food triggers a dangerous allergic reaction with rather severe symptoms. For the moment, the only effective therapy remains the exclusion diet (deleting allergenic foods from one's menu) even if pharmacological remedies able to solve the problem could soon be developed.
Peanuts should be consumed in moderation by those suffering from hypertriglyceridemia, especially in the days preceding the blood sample (in order not to alter the test results).
Finally, it should be noted that peanuts are a good source of polyphenols and in particular of resveratrol, a substance with a high antioxidant power.
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