Peanut contains many bioactive plant compounds and antioxidants. In fact, peanuts are as rich in antioxidants as other fruits. Antioxidants are mostly found in the epidermis of peanuts, which are rarely eaten and only eaten with raw peanuts. Here, we will focus on the plant compounds in peanut kernels that people often eat.

Some notable plant compounds found in peanut kernel include: p-coumaric acid: a polyphenol, which is one of the main antioxidants in peanut.

Resveratrol: A powerful antioxidant that can reduce the risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease. Resveratrol mainly exists in red wine. Isoflavone: A class of antioxidant polyphenols, the most common of which is genistein. Isoflavone is a phytoestrogen, which has many beneficial and harmful effects on human health. ?

Phytic acid: Phytic acid exists in plant seeds (including nuts), which may affect the absorption of iron and zinc by foods such as peanuts.

Phytosterols: Peanut oil contains a lot of phytosterols, among which sitosterol is the most common. Phytosterols impair the absorption of cholesterol in the digestive tract (20). Obesity is on the rise in the United States. Peanut has been widely studied in keeping weight.

Although high in fat and calories, peanuts don't seem to cause weight gain. In fact, observational studies show that eating peanuts may help maintain a healthy weight and reduce the risk of obesity. These studies are observational, which means they can't prove causality. In fact, eating peanuts is probably a sign of other healthy behaviors, which helps to reduce weight gain.

However, a small study on healthy women showed that when peanuts were used instead of other fat sources in a low-fat diet, these women lost 3 kilograms in six months, even though they were told to keep their original weight. Another study found that adding 89 grams (500 kilocalories) of peanuts to the diet of healthy adults for 8 weeks did not increase their weight as expected.

Many factors make peanuts a good food to lose weight: compared with other common snacks (such as rice cakes), peanuts can promote satiety and thus reduce food intake. Because of the satiety of peanuts, it seems that people will make up for the increase in peanut intake by reducing other foods.

When the whole peanut is not fully chewed, a part of it may pass through the digestive system without being absorbed. Peanut is high in protein and monounsaturated fat, which may increase energy consumption. Peanut is one of the sources of insoluble dietary fiber, which is related to reducing the risk of weight gain. Other health benefits of peanuts are related to other health benefits besides being a food that helps to lose weight. Heart health

Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Observational studies show that eating peanuts (and other types of nuts) can prevent heart disease. Various mechanisms have been discussed as potential explanations for these effects, which may be the result of many different factors.

One thing is clear, peanuts contain many nutrients beneficial to the heart. These substances include magnesium, nicotinic acid, copper, oleic acid and various antioxidants such as resveratrol.

Prevention of gallstones In the United States, about 10-25% of adults suffer from gallstones. Two observational studies show that regular consumption of peanuts can reduce the risk of gallstones in men and women. Most gallstones are mainly composed of cholesterol. Therefore, the cholesterol-lowering effect of peanuts is considered as a possible explanation. Further research is needed to confirm these findings.

Adverse reactions and personal worries Apart from allergies, eating peanuts did not cause many adverse reactions. However, peanuts are sometimes contaminated by aflatoxin produced by molds. Aflatoxin poisoning

Peanuts are sometimes polluted by a mold (Aspergillus flavus), which produces a toxic substance called aflatoxin. The main symptoms of aflatoxin poisoning include loss of appetite and yellow eyes (jaundice), which are typical symptoms of liver problems. Severe aflatoxin poisoning can lead to liver failure and liver cancer.

The risk of aflatoxin pollution depends on the storage method of peanuts, which is common in warm and humid environment, especially in tropical areas. Proper drying of peanuts after harvest and keeping low temperature and humidity during storage can effectively prevent aflatoxin pollution.