Peanut Health Benefits

You've promised yourself you're going to eat right and start an exercise program. Good for you! But eating right doesn't mean you can't have delicious snacks too, including peanuts. Peanuts are a healthy food you can enjoy without guilt. Here's why:

Peanuts are High in Protein and Low in Carbohydrates

Peanuts are healthy because they are high in protein and low in carbohydrates. They are a great snack for people who are diabetic or who are following low carb diets. A quarter to a third of the calories in peanuts is protein, making it one of the best protein sources around, which will help you gain muscle and lose weight. They're healthy for people who have diabetes because the lower carbohydrates doesn't increase their blood sugar levels.

Peanuts Have Healthy Fats

You've probably heard that peanuts have a lot of fat. Fat isn't necessarily bad for you, and the type of fat peanuts have is extremely healthy for you. These fats are polyunsaturated fats and monounsaturated fats -- the type of fats that nutritionists want you to eat for heart health. Peanuts have zero trans fat and are low in saturated fat, which makes them the perfect healthy snack. What's more, even though peanuts have fat, researchers have found that people who include peanuts as part of their healthy diet every day can lose weight, or at least maintain their weight.

Peanuts May Lower Cholesterol and Prevent Heart Attacks

Peanuts are high in fiber, Vitamin E, and L-arginine. These nutrients are known to lower the LDL or bad cholesterol in your body. A recent study by Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, the Harvard School of Public Health, and the Shanghai Cancer Institute in China discovered that eating nuts, including peanuts, reduce the risk of heart attacks by 20 percent over a five-year period.

Peanuts Are Chocked-Full of Nutrients

Peanuts have vitamins and minerals but also have amazing plant compounds and antioxidants that help keep you healthy and strong. Peanuts have many of the B Vitamins including Folate, Niacin, and Thiamin, as well as Biotin, Manganese, Copper, Phosphorus, and Magnesium. High in Vitamin E, peanuts also have compounds such as Resveratrol, Isoflavones, and other anti-oxidants. So next time you snack, be sure to snack on FERIDIES delicious, healthy Virginia peanuts.