Whether you’re a health nut or just looking to improve your eating habits, peanuts are a great food choice to incorporate into a diet, particularly for your heart. Plain nuts and peanut butter can help to manage hunger and are increasingly believed to boost heart health. With conditions like heart disease, obesity and diabetes becoming more prominent, Canadians are looking for healthy meal options at home and when eating out. A recent article from The Telegraph titled “Go nuts for nuts,” examined the health benefits of various nuts including peanuts.
From salads to stir-fries, kick-up every serving's nutritional value and flavour profile dramatically by adding fresh and inexpensive peanuts. They’re rich in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, and are also a source of magnesium, Vitamin B1 (Thiamin), Folate and Vitamin E. Not only are peanuts a nutritious way to boost a meal, but peanut butter, which contains many of the same nutrients, can be a tasty twist added to a dessert or vegetable platter. Below are some of the nutrients found in peanuts that help us stay healthy:
- • Magnesium: Critical to growth and formation of bones and muscles, while helping the body absorb calcium and potassium.
- • Vitamin B1 (Thiamin): In addition to improving heart function, this helpful nutrient works to convert carbohydrates into energy and maintain eyesight and mental alertness.
- • Vitamin E: A key antioxidant that protects Vitamin A and other essential fatty acids to help defend against heart disease, arthritis and certain cancers.
In addition to the above nutrients, a Harvard University Nurses’ Health Study of 51,000 women shows that those eating peanuts and other nuts twice a week had less weight gain. Furthermore, a University of Toronto study found that diets supplemented by nuts improved the health of those living with diabetes and resulted in better management of blood sugars.
Ultimately, whether people are looking to manage their diabetes, maintain a healthy weight or help their ticker keep on ticking, peanuts are a delicious addition to any meal which can reduce the risk of life-threatening conditions.