8 Basic Benefits of the Nutritious Groundnuts. Image Courtesy – https://www.health.harvard.edu
Sitting with family or friends and eating groundnuts, is very exciting. Groundnut is also called Peanut. Groundnut nourishes our body in many ways. The scientific name of Groundnut is Arachis hypogaea. Groundnut is also named as ‘Goober’ in the US and ‘Monkeynut’ in the UK.
It is a crop of the pea family grown mainly for its edible seeds. It is widely grown in the tropical and subtropical regions. Groundnut is an annual herbaceous plant that grows 12 inches to 20 inches in height. Like most other crops of the pea family, groundnuts nurture symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria in their roots. The leaves are opposite and have leaflets arranged on both sides of the stem. The diameter of the flower is 1cm to 1.5cm with yellowish-orange and reddish lines in it.
Groundnut is composed of multiple nutrients in it.
Nutrition value for 100 grams of raw groundnuts are described below:
Calorie contains – 567
Protein present – 25.8 gram
Fat present – 49.2 grams (Saturated – 6.28 gram, Monounsaturated – 24.43 gram, Polyunsaturated – 15.56 gram)
Carbohydrate present – 16.1 gram
Sugar present – 4.7 gram
Fibre present – 8.5 gram
Water present – 7%
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Featured benefits of eating groundnuts:
(i) Application in Tuberculosis (TB)
Groundnut contains a lot of an amino acid called ‘Arginine’, which is successful in curing Tuberculosis (TB). It can help increase the level of nitric oxide in the body. Nitric oxide tightens the body’s immune system. Groundnut also contains other nutritious ingredients like fat, which has positive effects on the patients.
The patients were given capsules containing arginine with other drugs for four weeks. It has been found that the benefit was observed more in those patients who were given doses of arginine. Symptoms like a quick cough were seen to improve quickly. A decrease in the level of TB bacteria was observed after the detection of sputum.
Experts believe that with the help of arginine therapy, the time of TB treatment can be reduced. Experts expressed that where arginine is not available as medicine easily or cheaply, groundnuts can be used. TB patients should eat groundnuts regularly.
(ii) Uses in Pregnancy
Eating 50 grams of groundnuts regularly for women during pregnancy helps in the development of the fetus. During pregnancy, drinking three spoonfuls of groundnut powder in a glass of hot milk once daily helps women give birth to a healthy baby.
(iii) Helps in Lactation
Consuming groundnuts regularly helps in increasing the production of milk in mothers for breastfeeding.
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(iv) Helps in maintaining a soothing skin
Eating freshly baked groundnuts during the winter season keeps the skin soft and prevents hands and feet. Dryness of the skin occurs in winter. Mix a little groundnut oil with milk and lukewarm water, and massage it after twenty minutes. This will cure the dryness of the skin. Before bathing, take a quarter teaspoon of groundnut oil in the palm, rub it in the palm with your finger and then massage this oil on the lips; it is beneficial for the lips.
(v) Helps in reducing obesity
Health experts say that groundnuts are an energy-dense food. If a small number of roasted groundnuts are taken with tea or coffee without sugar just before eating, the appetite is quickly relaxed. Then the person eats a lesser quantity of food, which in turn reduces the body weight.
(vi) Helps to protect against heart disease
According to scientists, people who regularly eat groundnuts are less likely to die of heart disease. Groundnuts can also decrease the bad cholesterol (LDL) level. Bad cholesterol can lead to plaque development inside the blood vessels, which groundnuts can prevent. Groundnuts can also reduce the inflammation that may be a cause of heart disease. Resveratrol, a polyphenolic compound found in groundnuts, has antioxidant properties and is anti-carcinogenic.
(vii) Helps in boosting memory
Groundnuts contain vitamin B3 that has many health benefits, including normal brain functioning as well as boosting memory power.
(viii) Helps in fighting depression
Groundnuts are a good source of Tryptophan. Tryptophan is an essential amino acid that is important for the creation of Serotonin. Now, Serotonin is one of the important chemicals involved in mood regulation of the brain. When depression takes place in a human being, a reduced quantity of Serotonin is released from the cells of the brain. When there is an increased amount of Serotonin present in the blood, an antidepressant effect works.
All these are the basic benefits of the groundnuts. Hope this information will help you a lot, and you will include groundnuts in your diet.
