6 Reasons Why Snacking on Peanuts Can Be Beneficial to Your Health

Peanuts have been declared a superfood for good reason. They’re full of vitamins and minerals contained in a tidy little package that’s easy to pop when you’re feeling the urge for a quick snack between meals. But did you know that snacking on them also comes with some added benefits? Below are some of the major benefits of regularly consuming peanuts and peanut-derived products:

Peanuts are good for you!

Peanuts Can Help You Lose Weight 
They’re chock-full of fiber and protein, which keeps you feeling full and sated for longer. As such, they’re an excellent way to manage the hunger pangs that have you reaching for chips or sweets. They also increase your metabolic rate as well as help stabilize your blood sugar. If snacking on peanuts whole doesn’t happen to be your thing, you can get all the benefits without any of the chewing by drinking a glass of milked peanuts or getting them from another source, such as peanut flour or peanut butter.

Peanuts Are a Great Source of Biotin
Biotin is a water soluble vitamin which can help convert certain nutrients you absorb through food into energy. It also helps keep your hair, skin, and nails healthy and strong. Research also suggests that getting enough biotin is vital for pregnant women, in order to reduce the risk of congenital birth defects in the fetus.

Peanut-derived products are heart-healthy, too.

Peanuts Are a Heart-Healthy Food
Peanuts are rich in monounsaturated fats, which have been known to lower your risk towards cardiovascular ailments. These monounsaturated fats help clear the arteries and keep your blood flowing strong and healthy. In a study conducted in 2017, it was found that regular consumption of peanuts led to a 15% reduction in the risk for coronary heart disease in a sample size of 200,000 participants.

Peanuts Are Rich in Antioxidants
Antioxidants are molecules that combat free radicals, which cause cellular damage. Excessive free radicals have been linked to cancer, which means that getting your antioxidants in is essential to reducing your risk towards certain cancers. Peanuts contain many of the same powerful antioxidants present in red wine, notably resveratrol. You don’t have to pop peanuts on the daily to boost your resveratrol intake, either—you can drink peanuts in the form of all-natural milked nuts, just as you would with wine.

Peanut Bars, anyone?
Photo credit: Betty Crocker.

Peanuts Are Nutrient-Rich Powerhouses
Niacin, folate, thiamin, and riboflavin are only a few of the nutrients you can get from a serving of peanuts. They’re also rich in vitamins B6 and E, pantothenic acid and choline, as well as essential minerals such as magnesium and potassium, among others. Niacin and vitamin E in particular are nutrients that help protect you from Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive decline due to advanced age.

Peanuts Can Lower Your Risk of Developing Gallstones
Gallstones are small, hard, crystalline masses that form in the gallbladder or bile ducts as abnormalities. Certain individuals are at a higher risk for it: women, those who are obese or overweight, people aged 40 and up. An unhealthy diet composed mainly of refined carbohydrates and calories can also increase your risk of developing gallstones. Consuming at least one serving of peanuts per day can lower your risk of them forming by up to 25%.

So the next time you have an urge to snack on chips or other types of junk food, you might want to consider eating a handful of peanuts instead. Aside from being a tasty treat that can stave off those hunger pangs, the health benefits that they bring are a much appreciated bonus that no one can deny.