Peanuts are one of the most common foods in our daily lives. We all know that peanuts have long been known as "longevity nuts," which shows their health and wellness benefits. So, how should peanuts be eaten to be the healthiest?
Peanuts are rich in nutrition and an inexpensive and easily accessible health food. According to scientific research, peanuts contain a large amount of plant sterols, which are very beneficial to human health. In particular, beta-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 "longevity nuts."
However, peanuts are the most susceptible crop to Aspergillus flavus infection. According to research by Professor Li Peiwu, a doctoral supervisor at the Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, peanuts can be infected by Aspergillus flavus throughout the entire growth process, including during their growth in the fields. After harvesting, peanuts are more susceptible to Aspergillus flavus infection due to the influence of temperature, humidity, and storage conditions. During its reproduction and metabolism, Aspergillus flavus produces a large amount of toxins (mainly aflatoxin B1), which contaminates peanuts and their products. It has now been confirmed that this toxin can be found in improperly stored peanuts, peanut oil, peanut beverages, and peanut butter.
Scientists around the world recognize that aflatoxin is the strongest carcinogen discovered to date, especially aflatoxin B1, whose toxicity is 10 times that of potassium cyanide and 68 times that of arsenic. Its physical and chemical properties are quite stable and cannot be degraded in the human body; it can only be deposited in liver cells. When the amount of aflatoxin deposited exceeds the human body's tolerance, it causes liver damage, inflammation, and even induces liver cancer.
How can peanuts be eaten safely and beneficially?
Peanuts should not be eaten raw:
Peanuts contain a lot of fat, and the human body digests and absorbs it slowly. Eating a large amount of raw peanuts can cause indigestion. In addition, peanuts grow in the soil and are often contaminated with parasite eggs, which can easily cause parasitic diseases if eaten raw. At the same time, peanuts are often contaminated by rodents, which can easily transmit natural focus diseases, especially epidemic hemorrhagic fever. Therefore, peanuts should not be eaten raw; it is best to eat them after cooking.
Boiled peanuts are more nutritious:
Some people are accustomed to eating roasted peanuts or frying them before eating. This will destroy a large amount of the glycerides and sterol ester components in the peanut red skin. Therefore, eating peanuts with the red skin on after boiling is more nutritious. In addition, peanuts are easily contaminated with aflatoxin. After boiling, the aflatoxin contaminating the peanuts can basically dissolve into the water, making it safer to eat this way.
Vinegar-soaked peanuts—a "perfect match":
Peanuts contain unsaturated fatty acids that the human body needs, but they are high in fat content, high in calories, and can be greasy. The various organic acids in vinegar are just the right thing to cut the grease and add fragrance. Therefore, soaking peanuts in vinegar for more than a week, eating 10 pieces every night, and taking this for a week as a course of treatment can lower blood pressure, soften blood vessels, and reduce cholesterol buildup.