Peanuts are known as the "longevity fruit," and eating them correctly offers five major health benefits. Boiled peanuts, fried peanuts, peanut soup... Peanuts are nutritious, affordable, and a favorite nut among Chinese people. Let me introduce you to the five benefits of eating peanuts.
1. Controls Appetite
Peanuts are a "high satiety" food that can make you feel fuller for longer. The high satiety of peanuts is not just due to their fat, dietary fiber, and protein content. If you eat peanuts or peanut butter for breakfast, you can reduce your food intake for the day.
2. Helps Reduce Salt Intake
Salty snacks are often high in sodium. However, the salt content in salty peanuts is less than that of sliced bread or frozen waffles of the same weight. Therefore, salty peanuts can satisfy your craving for salt without easily leading to excessive sodium intake.
3. Stabilizes Blood Sugar
Research has found that if people replace one serving of red meat in their diet with peanuts, their risk of developing diabetes is reduced by 21%. Peanuts slow down the absorption of carbohydrates. Eating some peanuts in the morning can help keep your blood sugar from being too high throughout the day.
4. Maintains Heart Health
People who eat more peanuts have a 35% lower risk of coronary heart disease. Researchers believe that the fatty acid composition of peanuts, combined with the effects of other components, can lower LDL (bad cholesterol) levels, making the heart healthier.
5. Reduces the Risk of Colon Cancer
Women who eat peanuts at least twice a week have a 58% lower risk of colon cancer, while men who eat peanuts at least twice a week have a 27% lower risk. Scientists suggest that this is due to the action of folic acid and other anti-cancer nutrients in peanuts.