The modern domesticated Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) is a leguminous herbaceous perennial from the tropics and subtropics that is thought to be a hybrid between two wild species, A. duranensis and A. ipaensis.
Today there are several cultivars and landraces of peanut that are in cultivation, and the cultivation of Peanuts can improve soil due to their natural ability to “fix” nitrogen.
The Peanut flowers are born near the ground, are yellow and last for just one day, and then after fertilization a stalk elongates into the ground with the ovary and develops into what we know as the peanut pod.
The Peanuts (seeds) can be eaten raw, but are more typically roasted, boiled or ground into a powder before consumption.
Of course, many of us know and eat Peanuts in the butter form, but they are also often added as a powder to cereals to improve the protein content.
The roasted seeds have been used as a coffee substitute, the young leaves and shoots have also been consumed as cooked vegetables.
Peanuts are also considered good sources of niacin, folate, vitamin E, magnesium, manganese, but their main claim to fame is for their high amount of protein—among the highest of all nuts!
As Peanuts are one of the top allergens in the world, they are also considered dangerous for certain allergic individuals. Tolerance induction strategies are working to improve this.
People have been eating Peanuts for thousands of years in South America and although their main role is as a nutritive food, they have also occupied a small niche in traditional health systems.
For example, in traditional Chinese medicine, Peanuts are thought to improve the appetite, lubricate the lungs, counter insomnia, promote diuresis, regulate the blood and strengthen the spleen. Peanut roots, leaves and stem are used for several conditions, such as insomnia, prostate enlargement and inflammation.
In one preclinical study, a Peanut stem and leaf extract, similar to what is used in China as a sleep aid, was found to indeed increase sleep behavior, possibly through GABA-gated channel mechanisms.
Due to their low carb and good fat and protein content, Peanuts have been investigated and found to possibly help with maintaining healthy weight. Other studies have found potential roles in gallstone prevention with regular peanut consumption, and cardiovascular support benefits.
Besides their straight nutritive value, Peanuts also contain some interesting health-promoting phytochemicals—such as stilbenes, flavonoids, phenolic acids, plant sterols—and few realize they are one of the top food sources of resveratrol!
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*This post is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, cure or treat any disease.