The autumn and winter harvest season brings a bounty of fruits, and among them, the most star is the peanut, known as the "longevity nut." Peanut kernels contain about 26% protein, which is twice that of wheat and is easily absorbed and utilized by the human body. They contain 40% fat, of which more than 80% are unsaturated fatty acids. The nutritional value of peanuts is higher than that of grains and can be compared with some animal-based foods like eggs, milk, and meat. Regular consumption can have anti-cancer effects.
Boiled Peanuts
Peanuts are nutritious, affordable, and easily accessible health food.
According to scientific research, peanuts contain large amounts of plant sterols, which are very beneficial to human health. In particular, β-sitosterol has the effect of preventing colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. American scientists have further discovered that peanuts also contain "resveratrol." This substance has strong biological activity, not only can it resist cancer, but it can also inhibit platelet aggregation, preventing myocardial infarction and cerebral infarction. Every 100 grams of peanuts also contains 8.48 milligrams of zinc, which can enhance immune function and delay aging. Therefore, peanuts are praised by people as the "longevity fruit."
4 Benefits of Peanuts
Appetite control. Peanuts are "high satiety" foods. Dr. Mattes, a professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at Purdue University, says: "The high satiety of peanuts is not just due to the content of fat, dietary fiber, and protein, but the result of the synergistic effect of all these factors." Kathy McManus, director of the nutrition department at Brigham and Women's Hospital, says that if you eat peanuts or peanut butter for breakfast, you can reduce your food intake for the whole day.
Helps reduce salt. The salt content of salted peanuts is less than that of sliced bread or frozen waffles of the same weight. Therefore, eating salted peanuts for breakfast can not only satisfy your craving for salty food, but it is also less likely to lead to excessive salt intake.
Stabilizes blood sugar. Studies have found that if one serving of red meat in the diet is replaced with peanuts, the risk of developing diabetes is reduced by 21%. Peanuts slow down the absorption of carbohydrates. If you eat some peanuts in the morning, your blood sugar will not be too high throughout the day.
Keeps the heart healthy. Researchers believe that the fatty acid composition in peanuts, combined with the effects of other components, can lower the level of low-density lipoprotein (bad cholesterol), making the heart healthier.
So, how can you eat peanuts safely and beneficially? It's best to eat peanuts boiled.
Nowadays, peanuts can be eaten all year round. It is still very necessary for diners to master some scientific knowledge about eating peanuts. Most people love peanuts, and there are many ways to eat them: raw, fried, stir-fried, or boiled. Among these methods, boiling is the best.
Boiled peanuts retain the plant active compounds originally found in peanuts, such as plant sterols, saponins, resveratrol, and antioxidants, which have a significant effect on preventing malnutrition, as well as preventing diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and obesity. In particular, β-sitosterol has the effect of preventing colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, the resveratrol in them has strong biological activity, not only can it resist cancer, but it can also inhibit platelet aggregation, preventing myocardial infarction and cerebral infarction. Peanuts combine nutritional, health-preserving, and disease-preventing functions, and play an important role in balancing the diet and improving the nutritional and health status of Chinese residents.
However, while we enjoy the deliciousness of peanuts, we must also pay attention to safety. Peanuts are the most susceptible crops to Aspergillus flavus. According to expert research, peanuts can be infected by Aspergillus flavus throughout the entire growth process, including during the growing period in the field. Scientists around the world unanimously agree that aflatoxin is the strongest carcinogen discovered so far. Its physicochemical properties are quite stable, it cannot be degraded in the human body, and can only be deposited in liver cells. When the amount of aflatoxin deposited exceeds the human body's tolerance, it will cause liver damage and even induce liver cancer.
Cook peanuts