To many, groundnuts may just be snack food to be munched on when watching their favorite television program. Medical research, however, has revealed that they contain nutrition goodies that contribute to a healthy heart, strong bones and has anti-aging properties to boot.
Safe Protein Source
Many folks overlook groundnuts as an important source of protein . Those who have to avoid meat for health reasons often turn to soybean for their protein needs.
The misconception of groundnut is it’s a fatty food because of its oil content. Research has shown that its oil is actually nutritious.
Groundnuts are packed with mono-unsaturated fats. They are also not lacking in antioxidants which help reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease. It should also be mentioned that they have anti-aging properties which could contribute to a younger look.
The humble groundnut may just be peanuts to most folks, but they contain more protein than meat and two and half times more protein than you can obtain from eggs.
Nutrition Content
Protein aside, groundnuts provide you with 13 different vitamins and 26 minerals essential for good health and strong bones.
Every 100 grams of groundnuts come, among others, with:
- 90mg of calcium
- 350mg of phosphorous
- 2,8mg of iron
- 7.0 mg of vitamin E
Groundnuts are highly recommended by the US Department of Agriculture for their protein, phosphorous, thiamin and niacin content, among others.
Healing Properties
Groundnuts are easily digested and could serve as a mild laxative. It is also known to boost your immune system. It builds your resistance against such diseases as hepatitis and tuberculosis.
Researchers have discovered that groundnuts have a positive effect on menstrual and nose bleeding.
Groundnuts have also proven effective in the treatment of obesity. Roasted groundnuts could be taken before lunch. They do a good job in lowering appetite which could contribute to weight loss.
Diabetics should consider groundnuts as a boon because it addresses niacin deficiency. It also minimizes the risk of vascular complications.
Milk Alternative
If you don’t fancy dairy milk or have to avoid it for health reasons, you can consider groundnut milk as an alternative. The milk is as nutritious as dairy milk.
To prepare groundnut milk, soak a desired quantity of groundnuts in water for up to two hours. You can then easily remove the skin by rubbing it in water.
You are now ready to grind the nuts into a paste. The add water to it – three times the amount of paste.
Strain it through a flimsy cloth, before boiling it.
Moderate Consumption
As beneficial as groundnuts are, moderation should be exercised in its consumption.
Excessive consumption could give rise to acidity in the stomach. If you have asthma, you should not consume groundnuts excessively. The same goes to those with gastritis and jaundice as it could lead to indigestion and heartburn.
