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Peanuts, such a wonderful little treat in the middle of the morning with a cup of tea—crunchy, slightly salty and very satisfying. Of course, there have been many early mornings when a piece of thin wheat bread has been spread with my favorite Peanut Butter, and munched on as a quick breakfast. Then there are days when by mid-afternoon, a cored apple filled with peanut butter is the perfect snack. Yummy.
--As we found in Part I of this series on Peanuts, there was a lot of good news about Peanuts! Rich in Fiber, low in Cholesterol, aids in reduction of Cholesterol, Rich in L-Arginine- an amino acid that helps maintain healthy arteries, and a great source of protein.
But we are not finished with the wonders of Peanuts! Here's More!
Peanuts Provide:
· Resveratrol--Have low levels of Resveratrol, the compound in red wine linked to reduced heart disease & other diseases of aging
· Lower risk for Diabetes---Research has shown peanuts significantly hinder development of Type II diabetes in women
· Low Glycemic Index---Peanuts have one of the lowest glycemic indexes of all foods, good news for sportspeople and diabetics
· Many Essential Vitamins and Minerals--Contain vitamins B6, E, folic acid & the Minerals magnesium, copper, zinc & selenium
· Cancer Fighting Properties---Peanuts contain phyto-chemicals which have anti-cancer & anti-oxidant properties linked to reducing risk for heart disease -- Now that you know more about Peanuts and how wonderful they are for you, here is a Quick Snack Recipe. Get an Ice Cream Bowl and fill with a scoop or two of Vanilla Ice Cream. Top with your favorite Peanut Butter. Microwave for about 10 seconds. Drizzle Chocolate Sauce on top! Yummy...
-- Stay Tuned for my final post in this Series on Peanuts! Part 3 --
Peanuts have had a ton of bad press lately. However, not all peanuts come from a nasty plant in south Georgia. And not everyone is allergic to peanuts.
I love peanuts. Living in South Georgia during high school, the fall days when peanuts were brought to the dryers to begin the processing of the peanuts into different products. That journey filled with air with the rich smell of freshly turned dirt. Then there were the pots of boiling peanuts in the neighbor’s backyard. Yummy!
I eat peanut butter on crackers for a snack and sometimes for lunch. I eat peanuts roasted, boiled & toasted. Put peanut butter with chocolate & I am there! Mix with Bananas and it is a wonderful thing.
But on to the real reason for this post. According to an article by the Peanut Company of Australia, Peanuts are a healthy food! Here are a few hints at how Peanuts are a Powerful Source for Health.
Peanuts are:
· Not Really a Nut--Peanuts aren't really nuts at all - they're legumes like beans and peas and grow under the ground
· Have No Cholesterol--Peanuts contain absolutely no cholesterol and trials show they can actually reduce cholesterol levels
· Full of Natural Fiber--One serving (25g) of peanuts contains more fiber than a whole wheat sandwich & more than other snack foods
· A Protein Powerhouse--One serving (25g) of peanuts provides 12% of the daily recommended intake of protein
· Reduces Cholesterol--Clinical trials demonstrate a reduction in total and LDL cholesterol when peanuts are added to the diet
· Inhibits Cancer Growth--Beta-sitosterol, the most abundant sterol in peanuts, has been shown to inhibit the growth of cancers! WOW!
As you can see, we are just getting started on the health benefits of Peanuts! My next post will continue with the list of Healthy Peanut Benefits. Stay tuned for more on Peanuts: A Powerful Source for Healthy Snacks---Part 2!
