Peanuts are very popular at Metabolic Balance. But what makes them so valuable? Although their name suggests otherwise, they aren’t nuts! They’re actually a type of legume. Originally found in the Andes, today they are mainly grown in the U.S., Argentina, Brazil, Sudan and Senegal. The stems of the peanut plant dig themselves into the soil after the flowers are pollinated. This is where the seeds ripen in a woody shell and hey presto we get peanuts!
Peanuts eaten raw actually taste like beans and only get their familiar peanutty smell through roasting. With 25-35% protein and 42-52% fat, peanuts are pretty high in calories; however, this is not bad! The fat provides a great source of the heart-friendly and essential fat, linoleic acid. Peanuts are also rich in vitamin E and most of the B vitamins (not B12), many minerals (iron, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium) and valuable trace elements such as copper, manganese, zinc and fluorine.
Take a little baggy of peanuts in your purse for a great quick snack when you’re out and about!
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