Peanut FAQs and Fast Facts
- Are peanuts good for you?
Yes, peanuts and peanut products are healthy. They are chock-full of nutrients like protein, fiber, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals.
- Is peanut butter good for diabetics?
Absolutely!
Peanuts and peanut butter help to reduce spikes in blood sugar, and may improve long-term glucose control throughout the day. Peanuts also help keep you fuller, longer. See more on ways peanuts can help control diabetes.
- Does peanut butter help lower blood sugar?
Peanut butter may help lower your blood sugar, and may contribute to long-term control.
Peanuts and peanut butter are digested more slowly, and therefore release sugar gradually into the bloodstream. The GI content of foods is measured on a 100-point scale, with 100 representing the highest GI foods. Peanuts, however, have a GI of only 14. Including peanuts or peanut butter at breakfast not only reduces the rise in blood sugar for that meal, it may also help diminish spikes all the way through lunch! One study found that peanuts and peanut butter promoted the secretion of hormone peptide YY (PYY), which helps suppress the appetite.
- Is peanut butter/peanuts good for cholesterol?
Yes. Peanuts are a rich source of monounsaturated fat—a heart-healthy type of fat that helps lower LDL levels.
- Do peanuts increase cholesterol?
No. Peanuts contain 0 cholesterol, and can actually lower high levels of LDL, or “bad,” cholesterol. High LDL cholesterol can lead to atherosclerosis—fatty deposits that build up inside your arteries. If the arteries leading to or inside your heart become clogged by these deposits, the result can be heart disease. Fortunately, different components of peanuts include healthy oils, protein, and fiber, which can all help reduce cholesterol.
- How many peanuts should I eat per day?
A serving of peanuts is a handful, which is approximately 30 peanuts. A serving of peanut butter is 2 tablespoons. It is widely recommended that adults consume 4-6 servings of nuts like peanuts each week. Epidemiological studies have shown that consuming just one ounce of peanuts or half a serving of peanut butter every day can cut heart disease risk by 48%or decrease diabetes risk by 20%.
- Are peanuts good for high blood pressure?
Yes, studies show that eating peanuts regularly helps decrease blood pressure, even among individuals with high blood pressure: One study found that “participants with elevated blood pressure at baseline had significant decreases in diastolic blood pressure” after peanut consumption. Learn more about how peanuts are great for your heart.
- Are salted peanuts good for you?
Yes! Lightly salted peanuts are a low-sodium food. According to the FDA, foods containing less than 140mg of sodium per serving can be considered a “low-sodium food”. An ounce of roasted, salted peanuts is an excellent source of niacin and manganese and a good source of fiber, phosphorus, vitamin E, folate, copper, and magnesium.
- How are peanuts made?
Peanuts grow underground, as opposed to nuts like walnuts, almonds, etc. that grow on trees. Check out our peanut facts to learn all about peanuts.
- How many calories are in roasted peanuts?
In 1 oz of dry roasted, salted peanuts there are 166 calories.
- What can peanuts do for a female body?
Women can benefit from groundnuts in a variety of ways. In addition to preventing chronic diseases that plague women, peanuts can help you manage your weight and enhance the quality of your food. Consuming peanuts has been linked to a considerably lower risk of breast cancer. Regular consumption of peanuts can also lower a woman’s risk of developing heart disease after menopause, when this risk is at its peak. Here are even more positive effects of peanuts on women.