Despite their high fat content,
Peanuts may be healthy again thanks to their high concentrations
of antioxidants
February 8, 2005
Peanut-lovers can finally feel better about their favorite
food now that Florida researchers have found that peanuts,
and especially roasted peanuts, contain a surprisingly
high concentration of antioxidants. Though their concentrations
are not as high as in fruits such as pomegranates, they
do fall into the middle of the scale, meaning that they
are about equal with blackberries and strawberries.
Summary
- Peanuts are in the news again as being healthy -
despite their high-fat levels - as researchers suggest
that they may be as rich in antioxidants as many fruits.
- Scientists from the University of Florida have found
that peanuts often rival fruits in their levels of
antioxidant.
- "If you compare peanuts to other foods people
think of as rich in antioxidants -- mostly fruits
and berries -- peanuts come out somewhere in the middle,"
said Talcott.
- The researchers' findings were part of a broader
study designed to measure the nutritional differences
between traditional peanut breeds and the growing
number of high oleic ("good" fat) peanuts
now available to peanut growers.
- Agronomy professor Dan Gorbet, heads of the University
of Florida's peanut-breeding program, said it should
be possible to breed the nuts with the purpose of
creating high antioxidant levels.
- Last month, a study from Pennsylvania State University
suggested that one serving of peanuts or peanut butter
a day could help children and adults meet requirements
for nutrients often lacking in American diets.
- Moroever, peanut butter and peanut eaters had increased
levels of vitamin A, vitamin E, folate, calcium, magnesium,
zinc, iron and dietary fiber in their diets.
- The researchers also concluded that their study
"helps to dispel the myth that higher-fat foods
automatically lead to weight gain", noting that
the peanut eaters had leaner bodies compared to the
non-peanut eaters, as measured by body mass index
(BMI), an indicator of body fatness.
Source:www.newstarget.com
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