There was this Walt Disney Goofy alter ego (of Mickey Mouse fame) named Supergoof and he got his powers from the super goober patch in his backyard. Peanuts and peanuts are the other names for the most common peanuts. This otherwise super goofy character got his tendons and jet power from devouring all those peanuts, sneaking out the back door, and emerging from transformed goober bushes!

In the real world, peanuts are a vegetable crop grown for their powerful edible seeds, which are grown in the subtropics and tropics where the climate is warm and the soil is well drained. India is the second largest peanut producer in the world.

The secret world of vegetables

Although peanuts are commonly classified as nuts, they are actually vegetables. Peanut pods grow underground and this has given rise to its scientific name Arachis hypogaea – hypogaea which means underground. These vegetables have nitrogen fixing properties. In their root nodules, they harbor symbiotic bacteria that produce ammonia from nitrogen in the air. The peanut plant uses ammonia to make amino acids and nucleotides (proteins). In turn, the bacteria use sugars from the plant. However, peanuts are similar to tree nuts like almonds and walnuts in their nutritional profile.

A complete food for a complete health care

Peanuts are rich in essential nutrients and are an excellent source of protein, essential fats, vitamins, and minerals:

Protein: One cup of peanuts contains 38 g of protein, which is a source of many of the amino acids required by the human body to perform hormonal and neurological functions.

Fats: Fats are essential for a balanced diet; it is a fallacy that a diet does not contain fat. 78% of the calories in raw peanuts come from fat – but this is the mono, polyunsaturated good kind that actually lowers LDL cholesterol and twin risks of diabetes and coronary heart disease.

Vitamins: Peanuts also contain niacin, folate, vitamins E and B6, thiamine, riboflavin. These help protect the levels of vitamins A and C. They also keep the body in good shape by regulating appetite and healthy digestion and metabolism – all great for healthy skin. Folate is good for the developing fetus, as it reduces the risk of birth defects, both spinal and neurological.

Minerals such as magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, iron, potassium, and calcium are essential for healthy bones and teeth, muscle contraction, blood clotting, and general immunity. Peanuts are a rich source of all of them.

Fiber: Peanuts contain insoluble dietary fiber that is considered necessary for weight loss and beneficial for managing type 2 diabetes.

Peanut milk is promoted in Africa to combat malnutrition: it is lactose-free, extremely nutritious, and affordable.

Benefits more than the human body

The nitrogen-fixing property of this legume improves soil fertility. As a consequence, the soil needs less nitrogen fertilizers. Crop rotation involving peanut plants is a sensible agricultural practice, as a peanut crop leaves a nitrogen-enriched soil for a different crop to be used.

Peanut oil is used in cooking and is a healthy alternative as it is unsaturated fat resistant to rancidity. The protein-rich cake residue after oil manufacture is used as soil fertilizer and supplementary feed for livestock.

The industrial use of peanut oil may not be common knowledge. However, it is used in paints, varnishes, lubricants, insecticides, and even nitroglycerin. Many cosmetics and soaps also use this oil or its derivatives.

Peanut shells, believe it or not, are used to make hardboard, abrasives, fuel, cellulose, and glue.

Can peanut butter be too far behind?

This protein-packed product should ideally have peanuts, salt, and not much else, but it is usually sold sweetened. It’s a good, easy way to supplement your protein intake – a 2-tablespoon serving is recommended. He is often good friends with the bodybuilder.

A word of caution

We are hearing more and more about peanut allergies. Symptoms range from mild allergic reactions like watery eyes and skin rashes to life-threatening anaphylactic shock. These allergies can be traced back to family history and consumption of soy products. But unless there is a true allergy diagnosis, you don’t need to avoid peanuts. The good news for allergy sufferers is that designer peanuts without the allergy-causing protein are for sale.

Peanuts are also susceptible to a type of fungal infection that produces a toxic compound called aflatoxin. Still, modern, organic growing methods can go a long way toward ensuring crop safety.

Common sense also dictates that no food supply is 100% safe. We live in a sea of ​​toxins and we have always been afloat. In fact, there is a much greater chance of contracting e-coli infection from contaminated food than the danger of exposure to aflatoxins.

Peanuts are very high in calories. The way to get a bite of the benefits would be to replace the empty calories in snacks like fries and pastries with these tasty and healthy veggies.

Gastronomic paths

Raw peanuts are used primarily for cooking. Peanut hot sauces are widely used in Southeast Asian cuisine, including Malaysian, Vietnamese, and Indonesian. Cooking in India, particularly in the Deccan Plateau region, involves extensive and multiple use of this nutritious legume: in masalas, chutneys, and as additions to vegetable dishes.

Young peanuts are delicious, boiled in their cases with a pinch of salt. Roasting is another popular option and actually improves antioxidant properties.

There are many packaged brands on the market that offer fried in batter peanuts or dusted with exotic flavors.

So next time you pick up a packet of peanuts, remember it’s a super-goober, indeed!