4 Reasons To Munch On Peanuts

 

There are a whole range of nuts that are available in the market in their original forms, as well as used as ingredients in food products. Studies are increasingly highlighting the advantages of consuming a portion of these good food items everyday, and people are becoming aware of the nutrition value of nuts and including them in their diets.

However, it’s human nature to run after exotic things and ignore commonly available ones, even if both benefit you in similar ways, and peanuts are a perfect example of this – They are often overlooked and not considered as good as other nuts like almonds, walnuts, cashews, etc. Peanuts, called different names across the vast expanse of our country such as moongphali and kadlakai, are the considered the poor man’s version of dry fruits and are the least talked-about member of the mighty nuts family. But did you know that this snack that you enjoy especially in the monsoon - roasted, salted, peeled, shelled, unshelled, with masala, or boiled – contains a whole list of beneficial nutrients for your body that help control and prevent a variety of health issues.

To read more about peanuts, click here.

Peanuts contain a wide variety of nutrients like Vitamin E, protein, manganese, monounsaturated fat, etc., and impact your heart, blood sugar, and weight all positively.

Benefits of eating peanuts regularly:

  1. Reduces Risk of Colon Cancer

Colon cancer is the third most common type of cancer in the world today, and eating peanuts can help keep you safe from this deadly disease. The folic acid and antioxidants in peanuts are known to significantly reduce the risk of colon cancer in both men and women.

  1. Controls Blood Sugar

With our sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy eating habits, diabetes is becoming a disturbing health issue, especially in the urban parts of our country. Peanuts can help you fight diabetes, as they slow down the absorption of carbohydrates in the body post a meal. The most effective way to use peanuts to combat diabetes is to eat a handful of these nuts first thing in the morning as this will keep your blood sugar levels on a healthy low for the rest of the day.

  1. Natural Appetite Suppressant

A handful of peanuts goes a long way in filling up your stomach and satisfying your hunger pans, and ensures you stay satiated for a long time, thereby reducing your calorie intake, and helping you in your mission to shed those extra kilos. Also, studies show that people who consume peanuts regularly are less likely to gain weight in the long run.

  1. Keeps Your Heart Healthy

Peanuts contain healthy fats that work on reducing the levels of bad cholesterol in your body. They also contain the phenolic antioxidant which is found in red wine as well, and is proclaimed as the reason for healthy hearts of the French people.

In addition to the above, peanuts also help prevent gallstones, keep your mind healthy and active, thereby preventing mental illnesses and maintaining your cognitive and memories functions, and are excellent antioxidants, helping your body flush out harmful products and eliminate free radicals.

A couple of things to keep in mind while consuming peanuts: Firstly, like all other good things, peanuts too should be eaten in moderation – About 200-250 gms a day of these nuts will take you a long way. Also, always try to consume peanuts in their original form rather than peanut butter since the latter contains additives, salt and vegetable oil and has lower nutrient content than whole peanuts since some of their nutrition is lost during processing.

Want to jazz up those peanuts? Mix them up with other nuts, use them in food preparations like Indian-style vegetables, salads or gravies, or throw them in to your smoothie-maker or add them a bowl of popcorn and a handful of raisins to make your very own healthy trail mix.

 

So, what are you waiting for? Grab a handful of peanuts, prepare them the way you like, and munch your way to health.

For more information on these highly nutritious and easily available nuts, click here.

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