Benefits Of Peanuts
Peanuts which are also known with the name of groundnuts or Moongfali in Hindi are one of the most favourite crunchy nuts of one and all. In all parts of India, these nuts are munched by people from all the age groups, from little children of ten years to old people of seventy or eighty years these nuts are a favourite food.
In every nook and corner of Indian streets, these snacks can be found in huge quantities which are kept on the stalls for selling. When these crunchy nuts are served with black salt, tastes of them increases multifold. During winters these are consumed by a huge Indian population.
When I think of winters one of my first few memories would be my grandmother serving me boiled peanuts every evening sometimes with jaggery and sometimes spiced with some chillies and onions, sweet or savoury peanuts are favourite snacks for a lot of Indians.
Do you know your favourite snack also comes with huge health benefits and making them a perfect snack for those chilling winters, next time if someone criticizes on groundnuts, do share the following benefits to defend your favourite snack.
1) Benefits Of Peanuts: Rich in Protein
These are the best plant-based sources of proteins which can help in an ample amount of protein intake. Peanuts/ Groundnuts though these are called nuts they belong to the legumes family making them offer more protein than any of the tree nuts including Almonds, while Almonds and pistachios provide 6gms of protein per ounce grounds offer 7 gms per ounce.
Not only peanuts are high protein sources compared to any other plant-based protein sources but also they are a richer source as compared to meat, milk, and even egg. Thus being one of the best sources of plant-based protein.
2) Benefits Of Peanuts: Helps in keeping your heart healthy
A lot of people avoid peanuts considering high-fat content and categorize them to be unhealthy for the heart but in reality, peanuts are completely free from Tran’s fats which cause heart issues. On the flip side, peanuts are rich in monounsaturated fats that help in reducing bad cholesterol and also lowers high-density lipoproteins levels making them good for your heart health
3) Helps in weight loss
Do you know a person could gain 2-3 kgs on an average in winters, this is due to lack of sunlight our body needs to spend more energy to keep our body warm and this results in an increase in hunger?
There’s no doubt that peanuts are loaded with fats but if these will be taken in a balanced manner, these fats loaded nuts can help in reducing weight at a fast pace. As peanuts are rich in healthy fats they take longer time to digest and hence helping us feel fuller for a longer time.
4) Helps in maintaining blood sugar levels
Another side effect of winter weather is, due to the coldness and lack of sunlight we feel more moody and unhappy. The unhappier we are the more we feel in need to eat sweet foods to lift our mood, peanuts can come in handy at such times as they are considered low glycemic foods. Glycemic index is the measure of the impact of blood sugar levels after consumption of food. Lower the glycemic index better the food.
5) Good for glowing skin
Often most of us suffer from dry skin in winters, this is due to loss of moisture in the skin and not providing enough hydration from our diet, monounsaturated acids and resveratrol in peanuts help in hydrating and replenishing your skin.
6) Essential vitamins and minerals
Peanuts are an excellent source of several essential vitamins and minerals. The list includes biotin, copper, niacin, folate, manganese, vitamin E, thiamine, phosphorus, and magnesium. Along with the above vitamins and minerals, peanuts are a good source of antioxidants as rich as fruits.
7) Price point and versatility
Considering the health benefits provided by peanuts, these are priced very low compared to any of the tree nuts such as almonds and pistachios which provide equal nutrients. This makes peanuts to be very affordable to many low-income groups. Despite tasting amazing peanuts also are very versatile to be used in many cuisines. They can be haven raw, roasted, boiled, and also can be included in many dishes.
Peanuts are the kind of nuts which are loaded with multiple profits along with delicious tastes. These are enjoyed in all the forms by all the people from different age groups. Be it raw or roasted, everyone loves to munch on these tasty and crunchy nuts. Recommended daily intake of peanut is handful serving of raw or roasted peanuts or two spoons of peanut butter. This winter does consider including peanuts in your diet to reap all the amazing benefits they offer.
