For most of us, peanuts bring to mind very specific experiences and memories. Some of those experiences might not always be great, but for the vast majority of people who eat peanuts, just the smell of them either raw or in the form of peanut butter bring to mind lunchtime as children or maybe special occasions like ballgames or a trip to the circus.
These days, we don’t see many children bringing peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to school in their lunch boxes. While some certainly do show peanut allergy symptoms from simply being in the same room with the legume and other forms of nuts, many have shied away from many peanut products without knowing about the health benefits of peanuts.
In truth, 98% of children in the United States can safely enjoy peanuts and foods that contain peanuts. This is according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
When you know the peanuts benefits for women, men, and children alike, it is easy to begin partaking once again in the deliciousness of the perennial favorite peanut butter and jelly sandwich or even just a quick spoonful of your favorite brand as you pass through your kitchen. With 94% of American homes having at least one jar of peanut butter in the pantry, this practice is surely familiar.
Peanuts are chock-full of protein and fiber
If you are trying to lose weight and feel that peanuts and peanut butter have to be removed from your diet, you can think again. Peanuts help you maintain your weight loss because they improve satiety. There have been several studies that have found that small amounts of nuts help dieters lose weight. It only takes a few nuts or a small amount of peanut butter to keep you from feeling overly hungry.
Peanuts are abundant in nutrients
Niacin, folate, pantothenic acid, thiamin, Vitamin B6, and Vitamin E are just a few of the vitamins found in peanuts. In addition to the vitamins, they supply our bodies with many important minerals like magnesium and potassium. Peanuts benefits for women, men, and children are easy to see for this reason alone.
Peanuts have anti-aging powers
Studies have found that peanuts contain a potent anti-aging molecule called resveratrol. This is the same molecule found in red wine and grapes. Among the many peanuts benefits for women and men is that resveratrol has been found to fight the proliferation of fat cells and improve the way sugar is processed from the blood. If eating a handful of peanuts every once in a while can help you look and feel younger, why wouldn’t you do it?
If you haven’t taken a look at peanuts in a while, maybe it’s time to revisit the food that made you happy as a child. At the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1904, the world was introduced to peanuts in a whole new way when peanut butter made its debut. Now, over a hundred years later, it still puts a smile on our faces as we try in vain to talk with our mouths full of either crunchy or smooth. No matter what your preference is, peanuts and peanut butter are as good today as they have always been.