Summary
Peanuts were considered an unhealthy food by many in the 1990s because they are high in fats, but peanut consumption is now growing rapidly as many doctors recommend nuts as part of a heart-friendly diet. Consumption of peanuts jumped by 200 million pounds in 2004, to 1.7 billion from 1.5 billion pounds in 2003.
Peanuts, eaten in moderation, are a healthy food - but many consumers find it difficult to eat them in moderation. Peanuts contain high levels of vitamin E, niacin, thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin B6, copper, magnesium, potassium, zinc, and phosphorus. They also have fiber and protein, and contain resveratrol, an antioxidant that helps fight heart disease.
Original source:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/04/03/health/main685170.shtml
Details
Even the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized a qualified health claim for peanuts and some tree nuts.
Producers can say they may reduce their risk of heart disease by eating 1½ ounces daily.
Peanuts, a dietary outcast during the fat-phobic 1990s, have made a comeback, with consumption soaring to its highest level in nearly two decades and more doctors recommending nuts as part of a heart-healthy diet.
When peanut butter and snack peanuts plummeted as Americans switched to lowfat diets, the peanut industry responded with studies showing the health benefits of peanuts.
Total consumption of peanuts jumped last year to nearly 1.7 billion pounds, compared to 1.5 billion pounds the year before.
The federal government's latest dietary guidelines say peanuts, which contain unsaturated fats, can be eaten in moderation.
"Now we know that the type of fat found in peanuts is actually good for us," said Lona Sandon with the American Dietetic Association.
"It doesn't clog our arteries like saturated fat.
There are 14 grams of fat in one serving of peanuts, which is only one ounce.
A handful can have up to 200 calories.
"The problem is that the portions need to be low so you don't overconsume the calories --- that's where the public has a disconnect," said Madelyn Fernstrom, director of the Weight Management Center at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
They also are a good source of fiber and protein.
Peanuts also have a small amount of resveratrol, the antioxidant in red wine that has been linked to the "French Paradox" --- a low incidence of heart disease among the French, despite their love of cheese and other high-fat foods.
One Harvard study showed an association between peanut butter consumption and a reduced risk of diabetes.
About the author: Mike Adams is a natural health researcher, author and award-winning journalist with a mission to teach personal and planetary health to the public He has authored more than 1,800 articles and dozens of reports, guides and interviews on natural health topics, and he has published numerous courses on preparedness and survival, including financial preparedness, emergency food supplies, urban survival and tactical self-defense. Adams is an independent journalist with strong ethics who does not get paid to write articles about any product or company. In 2010, Adams co-founded NaturalNews.com, a natural health video sharing site that has now grown in popularity. He also launched an online retailer of environmentally-friendly products (BetterLifeGoods.com) and uses a portion of its profits to help fund non-profit endeavors. He's also a successful software entrepreneur, having founded a well known email marketing software company whose technology currently powers the NaturalNews email newsletters. Adams also serves as the executive director of the Consumer Wellness Center, a non-profit consumer protection group, and pursues hobbies such as martial arts, Capoeira, nature macrophotography and organic gardening. Known as the 'Health Ranger,' Adams' personal health statistics and mission statements are located at www.HealthRanger.org
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Sunday, May 01, 2005
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