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Peanuts
The peanut is a staple ingredient in many cuisines of the world, including
African, Indonesian, Indian, and South American.
Although commonly thought of as a nut, peanuts are actually legumes and belong to the same family as the bean and pea. The peanut is the seed of a plant believed to have
originated in South America, although some sources believe it was China. Today, in the United
States, peanuts are primarily grown in eight states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North
Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia.
George Washington Carver is considered by many to be the father of the peanut industry. He
began his peanut research in 1903 and suggested to farmers that they rotate their cotton
plants and cultivate peanuts.
Varieties
There are about ten species of peanuts, each with several different varieties. However,
three varieties are widely produced for consumption: the small, round Spanish peanuts; the
medium-sized oval Valencia peanuts, often sold in the shell; and the large Virginia peanuts,
which are often found in cans and jars of mixed nuts. All three varieties can be used
interchangeably.
Buying and storing tips
Both shelled and unshelled peanuts should be kept refrigerated in tightly sealed
containers. Unshelled peanuts will keep for up to nine months in the refrigerator, while
shelled peanuts will keep for up to three months. It is important to discard peanuts that are
discolored or even slightly moldy or rancid since they can be easily contaminated by
aflatoxin, a mold that has been linked to cancer in
laboratory animals, though not in humans.
Availability
Peanuts are widely available year-round. They are sold shelled and unshelled, salted and
unsalted, and roasted and raw, although raw peanuts go rancid more quickly and are not as
common as roasted.
Preparation, uses, and tips
Peanuts can be eaten whole as a snack or used is a wide variety of dishes, both sweet and
savory. They are very popular when ground into
peanut butter. The peanut is a staple ingredient in many cuisines of the world, including
African, Indonesian, Indian, and South American.
Nutritional Highlights
Peanuts (dry roasted), 1 oz. (30 whole
peanuts)
Calories: 168
Protein: 4.9g
Carbohydrate: 7.2g
Total Fat: 14.6g
Fiber: 2.5g
*Good source of: Magnesium (64mg)
*Foods that are a “good source” of a particular nutrient
provide between 10 and 20% of the Recommended Daily Value.
Health benefits and/or concerns
Prostate Cancer
Alpha-linolenic acid is a fatty acid found in many foods. Most, but not all, studies have
found that high dietary or blood levels of alpha-linolenic acid correlate with an increased
risk of prostate cancer. It is not clear, however, whether this association reflects a
cause-effect relationship. Concentrations of alpha-linolenic acid are high in almonds, Brazil
nuts, cashews, flaxseed,
hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, peanuts, pecans, pine
nuts, pistachios, and walnuts.
Health benefits and
concerns for nuts and seeds
Many health benefits and concerns associated with this food are applicable to other nuts and
seeds. Read about health benefits and concerns
for nuts and seeds for a full description.
The information presented in this website is for informational purposes only and was created by a team of U.S. registered dietitians and food experts. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements, making dietary changes, or before making any changes in prescribed medications.
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