Bella Adams
From the point of view of scientific classification, peanuts have nothing to do with nuts. It turns out to be a full-fledged representative of the legume family. And people have been using it since ancient times.
The first, so to speak, consumers of peanuts were the inhabitants of America, even before it was discovered by Columbus. This was evidenced by a vase found in Peru. It was made in the shape of a peanut and painted with various pictures depicting this plant.
Chemical composition of peanuts
If you consider the chemical composition of this delicious relative of beans and peas, it will immediately become clear why it is so popular.
First, peanuts are very nutritious. This is possible because half of the nutritional value of peanuts is occupied by fats. 100 g of peanuts contain up to 50 g of them.
A large part is occupied by proteins – a little more than 26 g, carbohydrates are allocated almost 10 g, and dietary fibers make up a little more than 8 g in this product (per 100 g).
Peanuts contain 12 essential and 8 replaceable amino acids. In 100 g of the product, the amount of essential amino acids reaches almost the daily requirement of the human body. For example, tryptophan in 100 g of peanuts is 0.28 g (this is 70% of the daily norm for an adult), 57% of histidine (0.63 g), 53% of leucine (1.76 g), and the list can be continued.
Peanuts are rich in vitamins of various groups. Vitamin PP can be called the record holder among them. It is almost 20 mg in 100 g of peanuts, which is 90% of the daily requirement of the human body.
Peanuts contain a large number of B vitamins, especially thiamine. It is 0.74 mg in 100 g of nuts, and the daily requirement is 1.5 mg.
Macroelements are widely represented in the product. The first three places can be given to magnesium (182 mg, 46% of the daily norm in 100 g), phosphorus (350 mg, 44%), and potassium (658 mg, 26%).
Among the trace elements rich in peanuts, the record holder can be called iron – 5 mg (28% of the daily norm in 100 g).
Studies of the composition of chemical peanuts have shown the complete absence of cholesterol in them. However, the calorie content of 100 g of this product is quite high – almost 600 kcal.
Useful properties of peanuts
Since peanuts are rich in vitamins of group B and magnesium, they should be used for complex balancing of the work of the nervous system during its increased excitability, stress, and chronic fatigue.
Being a rich source of folic acid, peanuts act as a product that promotes cell growth and renewal. Peanut proteins are characterized by an optimal ratio of amino acids, and therefore they are well absorbed by the human body, and the fats in them have a mild choleretic effect and are useful for peptic ulcers and gastritis.
Eating peanuts improves memory and attention, hearing, increases potency and normalizes the function of the nervous system, heart, liver, and other internal organs.
Peanuts contain one of the most effective antioxidants – phytosterols. In their presence, the growth of malignant tumors slows down and gradually stops.
Contraindications to the use of peanuts
Any useful product, if used incorrectly or too much, can bring harm. Therefore, do not abuse these tasty nuts. Remember that in addition to the use of vitamins and micro- and macroelements, peanuts contain a lot of calories. Therefore, those who suffer from excess weight should not abuse this product.
It is necessary to monitor the quality of peanuts. A moldy product can lead to poisoning.
It is not recommended to include peanuts in the diet for people with any manifestations of allergies, because it is known that the body has an extremely strong reaction in case of hypersensitivity or intolerance to this product.
Osteoarthritis and arthritis are also contraindications for such a tasty and useful product.
