1. Peanuts
contain vitamins, minerals, nutrients, anti-oxidants and thus are rich energy
sources.
2. Cholesterol:
It
lowers bad cholesterol and increases good cholesterol in the body due to the
presence of the mono-unsaturated fatty acids especially Oleic acid that
prevents coronary diseases.
3. Growth:
Peanuts
are rich in proteins. The amino acids present in them are good for proper
growth and development of body.
4. Against stomach cancer:
Poly-phenolic
anti-oxidants are present in the peanuts in high concentrations. P-Coumaric
acid has the ability to reduce the risk of stomach cancer by reducing the
productions of carcinogenic nitrous-amines.
5. Against heart diseases, nerves diseases, Alzheimer’s disease,
and infections:
A
poly-phenolic anti-oxidant, Resveratrol present in Peanuts prevents heart
diseases, cancers, nervous diseases and viral or fungal infections efficiently.
6. Reduces stroke risk:
Again
the anti-oxidant, Resveratrol in peanuts prevents heart strokes by increasing
the production of nitric oxide.
7. Anti-oxidants:
Peanuts
contain anti-oxidants in high concentrations. These anti-oxidants become more
active when peanuts are boiled. There is a 2-fold increase in Biochanin-A and
4-fold increase in Genistein content. And these reduce the damage done by free
radicals produced in the body.
8. Protects skin:
Vitamin
E in peanuts helps in maintaining the integrity of cells of mucous membrane and
the skin and thus protects them from free radicals which cause great damage.
9.
Peanuts contain B complex, vitamins like niacin, riboflavin, thiamin, vitamin
B6, vitamin B9, pantothenic acid etc.
10. Minerals:
Potassium, manganese, copper, calcium, magnesium, iron, selenium
and zinc are some of the minerals present in peanuts. And they all play an
important role in many different body functions.
11. Gall stones:
Just an ounce of peanuts or two
tablespoons of peanut butter each week can save you from gall stones or
gallbladder diseases with 25% reduced risk.
12. Low risk of weight gain:
Women who eat peanuts or peanut butter
at least twice a week are less likely to be susceptible to obesity than those
who don’t. So if you are eating peanut butter every morning with bread slices,
then you have less chances of gaining weight.
13. Colon cancer:
Peanuts can reduce Colon cancer
especially in women. Eating at least 2 spoons of peanut butter twice a
week can reduce the risk of colon cancer in women by upto 58% and in men by
upto 27%.
14. Helps in fertility:
If taken before and during early
pregnancy, the folic acid lowers the risk of baby being born with serious
neural tube defects reduced by up to 70%.
15. Regulates blood sugar:
Manganese in peanuts helps in calcium
absorption, fats and carbohydrates metabolism and sugar level regulation in
blood.
16. Fights depression:
Low Serotonin levels leads to
depression. Tryptophan in peanuts increases the release of this chemical and
thus helps you fight depression.
Thus you can see that Peanut benefits
to health are many and you should make it a point to take in a minimum of two
tablespoons of peanut butter each week in order to keep those dangerous
diseases away and stay healthy!
Benefits of Peanuts for Skin:
Apart from satisfying hunger pangs, consumption of peanuts also
makes the skin smooth, supple and younger looking.
Some of the benefits of peanuts for skin
include:
17. The anti-inflammatory properties of peanuts treat skin disorders like psoriasis and eczema. The fatty acids present in peanuts also reduce swelling and skin redness. Peanuts contain Vitamin E, zinc and magnesium, which keeps the skin glowing from within and fights the bacteria that lead to acne. The protein content in peanuts also helps with cell regeneration.
18. Peanuts contain a relatively good amount of fatty
acids which is believed to be critical to the brain’s nerve cells. This
brain friendly cell helps with stress management and mood swings to prevent
various skin disorders like wrinkles, fine line and dullness.
19. Fiber in nuts is essential for the elimination of toxins
and waste. Toxins inside the body reflect on our outside appearance, causing
breakout, dullness and excess oil. Eating peanuts regularly helps flush
out excess toxins from the body to give you a healthy skin.
20. Peanut is loaded with magnesium which calms our nerve,
muscles and blood vessels to provide better blood flow to the skin. This, in
turn, gives you a youthful and healthy skin.
21. Skin damage occurs as a result of oxidation, a chemical process
in which unstable molecules called free radicals steal electrons from healthy
cells. Vitamin E in peanuts defends our skin’s cells against the damage of
oxidative stress. It guards our skin from the harsh UV rays of the sun to
protect against sun burn and skin damage.
22. Signs of ageing like wrinkles, discoloration and
decreased elasticity are one of our biggest beauty concerns. Peanut contains
significant amount of Vitamin C which is required for the production of
collagen. Collagen is required to sustain tendons, skin and cartilage. It provides
firmness and elasticity to the skin to keep it young and supple.
23. Beta carotene, an antioxidant found in peanuts is
very critical for skin’s health. It is converted into Vitamin A in the
body which helps in the growth and repair of body tissues. Thus peanuts help to
heal wounds and bruises at a faster pace.
24. Peanuts are packed with omega 3 fatty acids which
help our skin in many ways. Omega 3 fatty acids reduce inflammation in the body
to prevent skin eruptions. It lowers the risk of developing squamous cell skin
cancer. It also moisturizes and hydrates the skin from within to treat dry and
scaly skin.
25. Peanuts are very effective for treating skin problems
like pustules, skin rashes and rosacea.
26. Peanut
butter facial mask is gaining immense popularity these days. Applying natural
peanut butter on the face clears away the dirt and impurities to give you a
healthy looking skin. Wash your face with a cleanser and then apply peanut
butter on your entire face. Allow the mask to dry and then wash it off by
massaging your skin slowly in circular motions. Rinse your face with warm water
and pat dry. Do a patch test first and then apply it to the entire face as
allergic reactions are very common side effects of peanuts. Girls who are
allergic to peanuts should stay away from it.
Benefits of Peanuts for Hair:
27. Peanuts contain several hair friendly nutrients t
hat
are beneficial for maintaining healthy hair. Peanut contains a high level of
omega 3 fatty acids which strengthens scalp health and hair follicles to
promote hair growth.
28. Peanut is an excellent source of l-arginine, an amino
acid which is very helpful for treating male pattern baldness and to encourage
the growth of healthy hair. It also improves the health of artery walls and
prevents blood clotting to improve blood
flow. A proper blood flow throughout
the body and hair is imperative to get healthy and strong hair.
29. Deficiency in vitamin E can lead to brittle and weak
hair which can easily break. Including proper level of vitamin E in your diet
ensures that the hair roots receive a rich supply of hair healthy vitamins to
keep them strong and healthy.
Top ten producers of
peanuts in 2008/2009
|
|
Country
|
Production
(million metric tons)
|
People's Republic of China
|
14.30
|
India
|
6.25
|
United States
|
2.34
|
Nigeria
|
1.55
|
Indonesia
|
1.25
|
Burma
|
1.00
|
Sudan
|
0.85
|
Senegal
|
0.71
|
Argentina
|
0.58
|
Vietnam
|
0.50
|
World
|
34.43
|
Source: USDA Foreign
Agricultural Service: Table 13 Peanut Area, Yield, and Production
|
No comments:
Post a Comment