As more and more people are becoming familiar with different kinds of cooking oils, it is possible for them to choose the oil that is best for them based on the nutritional benefits they provide. Among vegetable oils, peanut oil is an up and coming favourite today, competing with the likes of olive oil and coconut oil.

Peanut oil is produced from the popular legume peanuts by a number of techniques including roasting or cold-pressing. Peanut oil is a popular choice in several Southeast Asian countries like Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and China but now its influence is spreading all over the world.

Cold-Pressed Organic Peanut Oil is a healthy choice due to its amazing fatty acid content which provide a multitude of benefits, as follows:-

1. It makes the heart healthy and lowers cholesterol

One of the advantages that peanut oil has over other vegetable oils is that it has zero cholesterol content. All the terrible heart problems that can arise due to high cholesterol can therefore be mitigated if one uses peanut oil on a regular basis.

Furthermore, peanut oil has rich reserves of monounsaturated fatty acids which actually help in boosting good cholesterol (HDL). Increasing HDL has the benefit of lowering bad cholesterol (LDL), thereby preventing heart diseases like atherosclerosis (blockage of arteries) and reducing the risk of cardiac arrests and strokes.

But wait, there’s more! Peanut oil is also rich in phytosterols; these compounds go head to head with your body’s cholesterol and reduce their absorption in the gut, contributing to a further 10-15% drop in cholesterol levels.

The effects of peanut oil on the health of your cardiovascular system are truly remarkable – it keeps the heart healthy, increases good cholesterol and lowers the bad one!

2. Lowers blood pressure and improves circulation

For patients of hypertension, peanut oil can be very useful in lowering their blood pressure. Peanut oil is a rich source of resveratrol which is an anti-oxidant. But it’s not just any other anti-oxidant; resveratrol has a significant effect on your blood pressure. Resveratrol is known to interact and inhibit the activity of the hormone angiotensin, which is responsible for constriction in blood vessels. As the effect of angiotensin is reduced, blood pressure is lowered and there is a lower amount of stress on the cardiovascular system.

In addition to the effects of resveratrol, the linoleic acid present in peanut oil actually heightens the contraction and expansion of blood vessels, thus improving the blood circulation in the body.

3. Fights off cancer

Resveratrol’s benefits aren’t limited to the cardiovascular system; like other powerful anti-oxidants, resveratrol is extremely useful in fighting off the threat of free radicals, which are oxygen scavenging by-products of metabolic processes. These free radicals are one of the major causes of different types of cancers and by neutralizing their harmful effect, resveratrol can help to keep cancer at bay.

4. Boosts immunity

Resveratrol from peanut oil is also linked to boosting the body’s immunity as it is considered to be a very potent deterrent against viral and bacterial infections.

5. Prevents neurological disorders

The final benefit which can be attributed to resveratrol in peanut oil is its ability to slow down and prevent the onset of several neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

By preying on harmful free radicals which can damage neural pathways and compromise the health of your brain, resveratrol’s anti-oxidant properties will keep diseases like Alzheimer’s at bay.

6. Makes the skin healthy

Peanut oil is chock full of vitamin E which means it is incredibly helpful for maintaining a healthy and glowing skin. By fighting off the effect of free radicals which tend to create wrinkles, spots and signs of aging, vitamin E from peanut oil will keep your skin free from blemishes.

Though peanut oil is one of the healthiest vegetable oils around, there is one word of caution you should bear in mind while using it – peanut oil has a lot of calories in it, so overusing it may lead to weight gain. Use it in moderation, and you will only reap its benefits!

To learn more about peanut oil, click here.