Health benefits of peanuts

Many people believe peanut is not as nutritionally valuable as true nuts such as almonds, walnuts or cashews.

But actually, peanuts have many of the same health benefits as the more expensive nuts and should not be overlooked as a nutritious food.

Peanuts are a good source of healthful fats, protein and fibre.

They have more protein than any other and also have a lot of potassium, phosphorus, magnesium and B vitamins.

Here are some benefits of adding peanuts to your meal:

Heart health

Peanuts help prevent heart disease by lowering cholesterol levels. They can also stop small blood clots from forming and reduce the risk of having a heart attack or stroke.

Weight loss

Foods with a lot of protein can help you feel full with fewer calories. And among nuts, peanuts are second only to almonds when it comes to protein count.

Studies have shown that people who include moderate amounts of peanuts in their diet will not gain weight from peanuts.

Lower diabetes risk

Peanuts are a low-glycemic food, which means that eating them won’t cause a spike in your blood sugar levels.

Studies have shown that eating peanuts can lower the risk of Type 2 diabetes in women.

Reduce inflammation

Peanuts are a good source of fibre, which helps reduce inflammation throughout the body as well as aids the digestive system.

Cancer prevention

Research has demonstrated that for older people, eating peanut butter may help lower the risk of developing a certain type of stomach cancer called gastric non-cardia adenocarcinoma.