Peanut

Useful properties of a peanut

The peanut does not belong to nuts as it is usually considered to be, its "nutlets" are fruits of the annual bean plant growing in a warm and humid climate. The set of substances, useful to an organism, is its part. So, the peanut contains high-quality fats which make nearly a half of its weight. It also causes the high caloric content of a peanut – 551 kcal on 100 g. Besides the proteins entering it easily are acquired thanks to what the peanut is often recommended to eat at serious illnesses and severe exhaustion.

Also the peanut contains various vitamins, most of all RR vitamin, influencing exchange processes and a nervous system. For ensuring daily need of an organism for this vitamin it is enough to eat 100 g of nuts a day. Also vitamin C and insignificant amount of B1 and B2 vitamins are chemical composition of a peanut.

From micro and the macrocells which are in nuts, the leading place is taken by potassium. Therefore the peanut is useful to prevention of development of heart diseases, improvement of physical activity, and also to regulation of water and acid-base balance in an organism. Also in it there is a lot of calcium, phosphorus, iron, magnesium and sodium.

In addition, still useful properties of a peanut give the antioxidants which are in it in a large number – polyphenols which protect living cells of an organism from harmful effects of free radicals, thereby interfering with aging.

Based on the conducted peanut researches, it is put in one row with a wild strawberry and blackberry on ability to influence aging processes, and also for prevention of formation of malignant tumors and diseases of cardiovascular system.

Also the peanut is useful at gastritises and a peptic ulcer, contributes to normalization of processes of a hemopoiesis and improves memory.

Use

The peanut is eaten both crude, and fried. In order that it did not lose the useful properties, it is fried on small fire without vegetable oils.

As a peanut – a high-calorific product (caloric content of a peanut makes 551 Kcal on 100 g), it is not recommended to be eaten in the evening to avoid excess weight. For a nutritious and vitamin-rich breakfast it is possible to use peanut paste. It can be bought or prepared independently for what dry roasted peanuts are mixed in the food processor with a small amount of salt. For giving of taste it is possible to add a little honey to paste.

It is also useful to use peanut butter which improves taste and nutritiousness of salads and sauces. Oil is recommended to use at diabetes and diseases of cardiovascular system for decrease in level of cholesterol, normalization of arterial pressure and increase in elasticity of blood vessels. Outwardly oil from a peanut can be applied as bactericidal and wound healing means at treatment of eczemas, diapyetic wounds and herpes.

Contraindications to use of a peanut

Despite all advantage which the peanut can bring it needs to be included in the diet with care. So, in large numbers the peanut is harmful and can slow down approach of a reproductive maturity of an organism, and also lead to disturbances of cardiovascular system and function of a liver as rather poisonous erucic acid which, besides, is practically not removed from an organism is its chemical composition.

Also, because of the high caloric content of a peanut it is not recommended to be eaten at disturbances of exchange processes and excessive weight. Besides, the peanut is harmful to the people inclined to allergic diseases and abuse of it can bring to disturbances of the alimentary system, abdominal pains and hypostases of an oral cavity.