Introduction: Peanuts are one of the most common foods in our daily lives. We all know that peanuts are known as the "longevity fruit," which shows its health-preserving effects. So, how should peanuts be eaten to be the healthiest?
Peanuts are nutritious and an inexpensive and readily available health food. According to scientific research, peanuts contain a large amount of plant sterols, which are very beneficial to human health. Especially 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 as the "longevity fruit."
However, peanuts are the crop most susceptible 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, due to the influence of temperature, humidity and storage conditions, peanuts are more susceptible to Aspergillus flavus infection. In the process of reproduction and metabolism, Aspergillus flavus produces a large amount of toxins (mainly aflatoxin B1), which contaminate peanuts and their products. It has now been confirmed that aflatoxin can be found in improperly stored peanuts, peanut oil, peanut beverages, and peanut butter.
Scientists around the world agree that aflatoxin is the strongest carcinogen discovered so far, 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, 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 causes liver damage, inflammation, and even induces liver cancer.
How to eat peanuts safely and beneficially?
Peanuts should not be eaten raw:
Peanuts contain a lot of fat, which is digested and absorbed slowly by the human body. Eating a large amount of raw peanuts can cause indigestion. In addition, peanuts grow in the soil and are often contaminated with parasite eggs. Eating them raw can easily cause parasitic diseases. At the same time, peanuts are often contaminated by rodents, which can easily spread natural focal diseases, especially epidemic hemorrhagic fever. Therefore, peanuts should not be eaten raw, and it is best to eat them after cooking.
Boiled peanuts are more nutritious:
Some people are used to eating fried peanuts or frying them in oil, which 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 infected with aflatoxin. After boiling, the aflatoxin contaminating the peanuts can basically be dissolved 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 have a high fat content, high calories, and a greasy feel. The various organic acids in vinegar are just the right remedy to cut the grease and add fragrance. Therefore, marinating peanuts in vinegar for more than a week, eating 10 grains every night for a week as a course of treatment, can lower blood pressure, soften blood vessels, and reduce cholesterol buildup.