Peanuts (scientific name: Arachis hypogaea) are a part of the legume family. They are also known as groundnuts and earthnuts, which is why many people confuse them with belonging to the nut family. In addition, peanuts are a popular and nutritious snack. You can eat them in a variety of ways.
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Some people like to eat them raw. Others like roasted peanuts. Also, roasting peanuts changes their chemical composition and texture and adds taste and aroma.
One popular way of roasting peanuts is with honey. It allows you to have a healthy snack and simultaneously satisfy your sweet tooth. This article looks at the nutritional profile of honey-roasted peanuts, their health benefits, possible allergies and side effects, and how to prepare them.
Nutritional Profile
As per USDA, the following is the nutritional profile of dry honey roasted peanuts per 100 grams.
- Energy: 571 kcal
- Protein: 21.43 g
- Total fat: 42.86 g
- Carbohydrate: 28.57 g
- Total dietary fibre: 7.1 g
- Sugars: 14.29 g
- Potassium: 571 mg
- Sodium: 286 mg
The HealthifyMe Note
Honey-roasted peanuts are rich in fibre. Therefore, it is an excellent snack option. It can offer satiety and can be beneficial for weight loss. They also contain trace minerals that are good for the body. However, these benefits are there when you eat them in moderation. It is because honey is high in sugar, which can harm the body when taken in excess.
Health Benefits of Honey Roasted Peanuts
As is clear from the nutritional profile, honey-roasted peanuts are rich in various nutrients. As a result, they have wide-ranging health benefits for you. The health benefits of honey-roasted peanuts are similar to those of raw peanuts. Some of them have been mentioned below in brief:
Aids Weight Loss
On its face, honey-roasted peanuts may not look like a great option to reduce weight due to their high unsaturated fat and carbohydrate content.
But research has shown that eating honey-roasted peanuts in moderate quantities is linked to weight loss. However, there is another aspect to it that explains the effectiveness of honey-roasted peanuts in weight loss.
They are high in protein content. Also, they are high in dietary fibre content. Fibre does not get digested easily. It increases the feeling of satiety and decreases the desire to eat more. There is some evidence for it as well. One study suggested that a handful of peanuts can help prevent obesity in the long term.
Heart-Friendly
Heart disease is a significant cause of death worldwide. Honey-roasted peanuts can help you protect your heart in various ways. Atherosclerosis is a condition in which fatty deposits build up inside the arteries near the heart.
High levels of bad cholesterol mainly cause it. Peanuts have monounsaturated fats that lower bad cholesterol levels. In addition, peanuts help in reducing blood pressure levels due to the presence of minerals like magnesium and potassium.
Research suggests that peanuts effectively lower blood pressure levels even in patients with hypertension. Peanuts also help keep the endothelium (the inner layer of arteries) healthy.
Amino acids and phenolic compounds present in peanuts are responsible for this function. In addition, components like arginine, magnesium, and phenolic compounds guard against inflammation, which as per research, is a cause of various heart conditions.
Useful for Diabetics
Foods with a Glycemic Index (GI) of less than 55 are considered ideal for people with diabetes. For example, peanuts have a GI of just 7. However, there is no standard GI noted for honey-roasted peanuts.
In the case of honey-roasted peanuts, the GI would be higher due to the sugar content in honey. But due to high amounts of protein, it is likely to be lower than most other foods. A study suggested that increased dietary protein intake may help decrease the risk of type 2 diabetes.
It helps prevent gallstones.
Gallstones are mainly composed of cholesterol and bilirubin. They can cause severe pain in the bladder. As per a study, honey-roasted peanuts can help reduce the size of these stones and make them small enough to pass quickly.
Also, this is quite effective for both men and women. Another study showed that peanuts could help reduce gallstone size substantially.
May Enhance Cognitive Health
Vitamin B3 is known to play an essential role in improving the brain’s functioning. Vitamin E is a crucial component that is useful for enhancing cognitive health.
As per studies, it may help prevent cognitive decline and conditions like Alzheimer’s in old age. Regular intake of honey-roasted peanuts can help fulfil the daily needs of Vitamin E and hence play a key role in maintaining and enhancing cognitive health.
Rich in Antioxidants
Free radicals are unstable atoms that cause oxidative stress in your body. Sufficient research has shown that excess free radicals in the body can cause various diseases.
Antioxidants are essential for your body as they protect the body against free radicals. Peanuts are rich in antioxidants. They contain coumaric acid, resveratrol, isoflavones, phytosterols, and phytic acid. Therefore, it helps protect your body from the damage of free radicals.
Prevents Cancer
Research has shown that eating peanuts can help reduce cancer risk, especially oesophagal and gastric cancers. The antioxidant resveratrol is responsible for the cancer prevention properties of peanuts.
It does so by cutting off blood supply to growing tumours. In addition, some theories say that compounds known as phytosterols are responsible for the cancer-prevention properties of peanuts.
The HealthifyMe Note
Honey roasted peanuts can help you lose weight, enhance heart health, lower blood sugar levels, deal with gallstones, improve cognitive health and prevent certain cancers. They are also rich in plant-based antioxidants that counter free radicals.
Possible Allergies and Side Effects
Though honey-roasted peanuts are highly nutritious, some people may have allergic reactions. Here are some allergies and side effects that you may get from honey-roasted peanuts.
Peanut Allergy
Studies have suggested that peanuts are a common allergen. The symptoms of peanut allergy are mostly mild. They can cause itching, hives, wheezing, and swelling.
However, in rare cases, a peanut allergy may become life-threatening if it results in a condition known as anaphylaxis. So, if you have a peanut allergy, you should avoid all peanut products.
Poisoning due to peanuts
It is similar to food poisoning. For example, sometimes peanuts can be contaminated by mould, producing aflatoxin. Aflatoxin poisoning can cause symptoms like jaundice and loss of appetite. Research says that in extreme cases, it can lead to fatal conditions like liver failure.
Antinutrients
Antinutrients are substances that decrease the nutritional value of a food by impairing your body’s ability to absorb certain nutrients. Peanuts have one such nutrient, which is known as Phytic acid. It reduces your body’s ability to iron and zinc in peanuts.
If you have peanut allergies, you must avoid taking honey-roasted peanuts altogether. Always try to watch how your body responds to a particular food. Even if it’s a mild itch or a hive, do not ignore it. Even if you are not allergic to peanuts, you should not overeat. Moderation is key.
An Easy Way to Prepare Honey Roasted Peanuts at Home
If you do not want to purchase a packet of honey-roasted peanuts, you can prepare them at home. It is surprisingly easy. Follow the procedure as mentioned below.
Ingredients:
- Peanuts: 100 g
- Honey: 50 g
- Butter: 20 g
- Salt: 2 tbsp
- Cinnamon: 5 g
Procedure:
- First, mix honey, butter, and salt in a bowl. You can also add cinnamon flavour (optional).
- Warm the mixture in a microwave till it becomes liquid. Mix thoroughly.
- Add peanuts to the mixture. Keep tossing them until all of them get coated with honey.
- Finally, roast the nuts in an oven for about 20 minutes.
You can add salt as per your taste.
Storage
Commercial brands of nuts are typically sold in airtight containers, and when kept in a cool pantry, they can stay fresh for months. Additionally, each container will include a reference “best by” date.
Once opened, nuts have a one- to two-week shelf life. Manufacturers advise putting opened nut packages in a closed jar or tin. Put the container somewhere cool and dark.
Homemade honey peanut nuts can be frozen or kept in the fridge. The shelf life is extended by refrigeration by roughly four weeks. They might stay fresh for several months if frozen.
Conclusion
Honey-roasted peanuts are a delicious snack. They satisfy your sweet tooth and are very nutritious at the same time. They are readily available in the market. Alternatively, you can easily make honey-roasted peanuts at home. They are rich in minerals and provide health benefits to different body parts.
Honey-roasted peanuts are pretty nutritious; you should remember that peanuts are a common allergen. Therefore, you should check for yourself and decide on taking peanuts. If you have peanut allergies, you should avoid eating honey-roasted peanuts.
It is essential to keep in mind the importance of eating in moderation. Though honey-roasted peanuts are highly nutritious, eating them in large quantities would not be wise. In addition, honey-roasted peanuts have a high content of sugar and carbohydrates. Overeating sugar is harmful to your body. So it would help if you avoided overeating honey-roasted peanuts as the health benefits will come only when you eat them in moderation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. Are honey-roasted peanuts healthy?
A. Yes, honey-roasted peanuts are healthy. They are rich in various nutrients and provide wide-ranging health benefits to the body. They are also rich in fibre, giving a feeling of fullness and are beneficial for weight loss. They also contain traces of a variety of minerals that are responsible for facilitating reactions in the body. However, these benefits come only when you take honey-roasted peanuts in moderation. It is because honey has sugar, which can harm the body when taken in excess.
Q. Is honey roasted peanuts good for your heart?
A. Yes, they are good for the heart. Atherosclerosis is a condition in which fatty deposits build inside the arteries near the heart. High levels of bad cholesterol mainly cause it. Peanuts have monounsaturated fats that lower bad cholesterol levels. In addition, peanuts help in reducing blood pressure levels due to the presence of minerals like magnesium and potassium.
Peanuts effectively lower blood pressure levels even in patients with hypertension. Peanuts also help keep the endothelium (the inner layer of arteries) healthy. Amino acids and phenolic compounds present in peanuts are responsible for this function. In addition, components like arginine, magnesium, and phenolic compounds guard against inflammation which is a cause of various heart conditions.
Q. Are honey roasted peanuts anti-inflammatory?
A. Yes, they have anti-inflammatory properties. Their anti-inflammatory properties are due to components like arginine, magnesium, and phenolic compounds that help combat inflammation. Therefore, peanuts are highly beneficial for enhancing heart health.
Q. Do honey-roasted peanuts give you energy?
A. Yes, honey-roasted peanuts are a popular snack. A hundred grams of honey-roasted peanuts give you 571 kcal of energy. In addition, they are highly nutritious and have wide-ranging health benefits for the body. They help you lose weight, enhance heart health, lower blood sugar levels, deal with gallstones, improve cognitive health and prevent certain cancers. They also have plant-based antioxidants that counter free radicals.
Q. Do honey-roasted peanuts raise blood sugar?
A. When taken in moderation, honey roasted peanuts do not increase blood sugar levels. Also, peanuts have a GI of just 7. In the case of honey-roasted peanuts, the GI is higher due to the sugar content in honey. But due to high amounts of protein, it is likely to be lower than most other foods. However, honey-roasted peanuts have sugar, which can harm the body when taken in excess.
Q. What happens if you eat too many roasted peanuts?
A. Peanuts are high in sodium and saturated fats content. Taking too much of these may be harmful to the heart. If they are roasted with honey, taking excess amounts can also increase blood sugar levels above desired.
Q. Is honey-roasted peanuts good for high blood pressure?
A. When taken in moderation, honey roasting does not impact the benefits of peanuts. Peanuts help in reducing blood pressure levels due to the presence of minerals like magnesium and potassium. Peanuts effectively lower blood pressure levels even in patients with hypertension.
Q. How much peanuts should I eat per day?
A. You can safely eat about 1.5 tablespoons of peanuts daily without peanut allergies. However, if you have peanut allergies, it is better to be on the safe side and avoid taking all peanut products.
Q. Can you eat peanuts every day?
A. Yes, taking peanuts gives immense health benefits to the body. You can safely eat about 1.5 tablespoons or a handful of peanuts daily if you have no peanut allergies.
Q. What do peanuts do to a male body?
A. Peanuts are beneficial for males. In addition to providing good energy, they support muscle growth, enhance heart health and improve sexual health. Most of the benefits of peanuts are common for both males and females.
