What are the groundnuts?
Peanuts are also known by a variety of names like groundnuts, goobers, and earthnuts. Groundnuts are extremely suitable for human health due to its rich content of protein, healthy fat oil as well as other nutrients that will be discussed in this article. They are legumes that first originated from South America. The botanical name of peanut is Arachis hypogaea.

Peanuts are considered a very healthy snack despite small in size. The products of these nuts are used in a diversity of foods like desserts, snacks, confectionery, and sauces cakes. Irrespective of their name, peanuts are not related to tree nuts. Other peanut products include flour, peanut oil, and protein. As a leguminous crop, they are related to beans, soy, and lentils. Peanuts are rarely consumed raw in the U.S. Instead, these legumes are most often consumed roasted or as peanut butter.

Furthermore, its nuts can be used to cook groundnut stew and soup and can serve as an essential ingredient in some Nigerian foods. Peanut butter is known as “epa bota” in Yoruba; “okwu oji” or “ose oji” in Igbo; “mansang ikpuk” in Ibibio and “gyada butter” in Hausa. is one of the commonest derivatives of groundnut in Nigeria. This peanut butter is made in paste form which is purely an unprocessed butter made from groundnut. It is extremely delicious with its unique smell and texture.

In Nigeria and other parts of West Africa, groundnuts can be consumed whole when boiled or it can as well be fried or roasted to serves various purposes, be it fried or boiled. Others tend to add a small quantity of salt to make it taste better and may serve as lunch in some cases. Groundnut can also be used in the production of vegetable oil known as groundnut oil. It is one of the common vegetable oils used in Nigeria or West Africa in both cooking and for other purposes.

Consequently, during the processing of groundnuts into oil, its cake can be used as feed for poultry and livestock or as well used in the production of the locally made Nigerian snack called Kuli Kuli which is predominant in the North. Peanuts are rich in fat, protein, and several healthy nutrients. Recent studies show that peanuts may be suitable for weight loss and are linked to a reduced chance of developing heart disease.

This article will be explaining the nutritional facts, health benefits, and adverse effects of eating peanuts (groundnuts).

Nutritional facts of raw peanuts
Peanuts are packed with high-quality protein and healthy fats. They are also fairly rich in calories.

The following are the nutritional facts for 100 grams (3.5 ounces) of raw peanuts:

Calories: 567

Protein: 25.8 grams

Sugar: 4.7 grams

Water: 7 percent

Carbs: 16.1 grams

Fiber: 8.5 grams

Fat: 49.2 grams

Saturated: 6.28 grams

Monounsaturated: 24.43 grams

Polyunsaturated: 15.56 grams

Omega-3: 0 gram

Omega-6: 15.56 grams

Trans: 0 gram

Health benefits of consuming peanuts
Peanuts are rich in protein

Peanuts, as well as groundnuts, are rich in protein. Its protein content ranges between 22-30 percent of its total calories, making peanuts an essential source of plant-based protein. Some people could be allergic to arachin and conarachin which are the predominant proteins in peanuts thereby resulting in some life-threatening reactions.

Good source of vitamins and minerals

Peanuts are high in vitamins and minerals, such as:

Copper

This is a dietary mineral in its trace amount and is often low in the western diet. Lack of copper in the human body brings about harmful effects on heart health.

Folate (Folic acid or vitamin B9)

Folate is important especially during pregnancy.

Vitamin E

This vitamin is a strong antioxidant and is mainly present in high amounts in fatty foods.

Phosphorus

This particular mineral helps promote the growth and maintenance of body tissues.

Biotin

Peanuts are excellent dietary sources of biotin, which is essential during pregnancy.

Vitamin B3

This is also known as niacin. Vitamin B3 has been found to help lower your risk of having a heart disease.

Manganese

It’s a trace element that is predominantly found in most foods and drinking water.

B vitamins

This is also known as thiamine or vitamin B1. It enables your body’s cells to convert carbs into energy and is important for the proper functioning of your muscles, heart, and nervous system.

Magnesium

It’s an important dietary mineral with numerous functions. Research shows that adequate intake of magnesium helps protect your body against heart disease.

Read more at https://relhealth.com/peanuts-nutritional-facts-health-benefits-adverse-effects/