Health Benefits of Peanuts

on Sunday 2 December 2012

The peanut was introduced to China by Portuguese traders in the 17th century and another variety by American missionaries in the 19th century.
Moreover, peanuts became popular and are featured in many Chinese dishes, often being boiled. During the 1980s, peanut production began to increase so greatly in 2006; China was the world's largest peanut producer. Since, a major factor in this increase was the household-responsibility system, which moved financial control from the government to the farmers.

Dietary Benefits
Peanut butter is 8 percent dietary fiber, which can help control blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Dietary fiber is beneficial; it has been proven to reduce the danger of colo-rectal cancer and atherosclerosis, both common ailments in the United States. Peanut butter though high in protein and micro-nutrients like Vitamin E and B3, along with minerals like iron, potassium and calcium. Raw peanut butter has more nutrients than refined peanut butter.

Heart
Peanut butter is great as part of a heart-healthy diet because of its monounsaturated fat content. Therefore, this can be the same kind of fat found in Mediterranean diets and can lower the risk of heart disease by as much as 21 percent.

Antioxidants
Peanut butter is able to rival some fruits in the levels of antioxidants found in it. These antioxidants help to prevent oxidative damage caused by free radicals, which can affect cells and DNA strands and also cause
cancer.

So, whether you prefer it smooth or chunky, peanut butter is a tasty snack that is great on sandwiches or mixed in with other ingredients. It's made out of peanuts, which are actually more closely related to legumes than true nuts. Peanut better is incredibly healthy. What follows are some of the reasons you should try to experience some of its health benefits like:

Stroke
1-Peanut butter has a flavonoid in it called reservatol, which is found in grapes and red wine as well. It is known to increase blood flow to the brain, which can help reduce the risk of a stroke.


Gallbladder
2-Eating only two teaspoons of peanut butter a week is known to help reduce to the risk of developing gallstones by 25 percent. It also helps promote the overall health of the gall bladder.

Features
3-Peanuts have a natural nutrient called resveratrol, which is generated from the peanut plant to fight off harmful agents like bacteria and fungi. Resveratrol gives anti-microbial and anti-fungal properties to people when it's consumed. Animal studies suggest that resveratrol could have cancer-fighting, life-prolonging and anti-aging health benefits.

Peanut butter is widely used to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. For a healthier, potassium-filled option, try a peanut butter and banana sandwich. Potassium-rich diets can reduce hypertension. The recommended serving size for peanut butter is two tablespoons, approximately the size of a ping pong ball. It can be a tasty dip with healthy snacks such as apples, celery sticks or carrots
Benefits

One of the many benefits of eating peanut butter is that it contains large amounts of dietary fiber, equal to about 8 percent. Fiber helps in the process of controlling blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Another benefit of fiber is that it can reduce the chance of developing colorectal cancer.
Ranking: 5
 
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