Peanuts may help your heart
"Mothers gave us peanuts and peanut butter. Now, we have figured out that Mom was right. But it took a lot of researchers and universities to figure that out," said Don Koehler, executive director of Georgia's Peanut Commission.
When peanuts were out of favor in the last decade, American consumers seemed to overlook the respectable list of nutrients like vitamin E, niacin, thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin B6, and minerals such as copper, phosphorous, potassium, zinc and magnesium. They also are a good source of fiber and protein.
Peanuts also have a small amount of resveratrol, the antioxidant in red wine that has been linked to the "French Paradox," a low incidence of heart disease among the French, despite their love of cheese and other high-fat foods.
Research at several universities suggests peanuts may help prevent heart disease, that they can lower bad cholesterol and that they can help with weight loss, possibly by making people feel satisfied so they eat less overall. One Harvard study showed an association between peanut butter consumption and a reduced risk of diabetes.
Eat your peanuts, but only in moderation. "The problem is that the portions need to be low so you don't over-consume the calories, that's where the public has a disconnect," said Madelyn Fernstrom, director of the Weight Management Center at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. "It's a well-spent 200 calories if you can limit it to that. The problem is volume. It's very hard to have a small serving of peanuts, meaning a small handful."