Peanuts are really important for your health. They are rich in good-quality protein (25g/100g portion). They also provide a lot of energy due to the fact that they contain 50g fat and 16g of carbohydrates in one portion of 100g. A similar combination of nourishing substances is also contained by strawberries. Some researchers at the Florida University discovered that peanuts contain plenty of antioxidants which are very good protectors of the cells, being able to help preventing cancer and heart disease. The high levels of monosaturated fat and protein make them priceless for our health.
Although the fat content in the peanuts is raised, we are talking about healthy fat. This type of fat is helpful when it comes to lowering LDL cholesterol, but without having any bad effect on HDL cholesterol. Studies demonstrated that monosaturated fats are extremely beneficial in the prevention of asthma, breast cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease and depression. A very interesting discovery has been made recently by three independent groups of researchers who claim that peanuts can actually be helpful for those who want to lose weight. Specialists from Harvard confirmed this idea in a magazine dedicated to the study of obesity, stating that it is a good thing to include peanut butter and whole peanuts in your diet if you are trying to lose weight with the help of a moderate-fat diet, the Mediterranean type, which proved to give better results than the standard diet based on low-fat food.
Because peanuts work wonders when it comes to controlling your appetite, it means you will eat less, therefore you will lose weight. You will manage to keep your calorie level low by eating peanut butter and plain peanuts, which will reduce your hunger and help you lose weight. For an efficient weight loss, you only have to settle for the right diet, one that you can cope with, and so you will feel satisfied and, at the same time, you will be able to eat whatever you like.
Another study, recently published in the same magazine dealing with obesity, showed that people who ate peanuts on a daily basis, on top of their habitual meals, started to eat less of other bad products because peanuts filled them up, and they no longer felt the urge to eat other products. This brought up a positive, radical change in the number of calories ingested in one day. Therefore, because peanuts fill you up quickly, you will eat less and you will manage to lose weight easier. In conclusion, peanuts are actually good for weight loss!
Why then are peanuts so effective in controlling appetite? This is due to their (GI) glycemic index which is 14, so it is really low. The glycemic index classifies foods taking into account the levels of glucose which they send to the blood. Foods which have a low glycemic index are processed with more difficulty, therefore generating a steady rise and also a steady fall of glucose in the blood. If glucose is released slowly into the blood, we will feel more energetic, for a longer period of time. This means we will have a prolonged feeling of satiety which will induce less hunger which means, of course, that we will lose weight.
If you include peanuts in your diet, it means you are improving your diet, contributing with essential nutrients and managing to lose weight. What else would you like more? Peanuts are good for your health, they are nourishing and they help you with your weight loss.
However, it is well-known that peanuts contain lots of calories, so do not exaggerate with the quantities ingested but be reasonable instead. Temperance is very important for a healthy diet. By doing so, you will manage to lose weight.
