I’m Nuts for Peanuts

Peanuts are one of America’s favorite snacks. You probably can picture yourself at a baseball game, digging your hand into a bag of nuts, cracking the shell and enjoying the sweet, salty taste of peanuts.

March is National Peanut Month

That’s right a whole month dedicated to the perfect little peanut! National Peanut Week had its beginnings in 1941 and has now become a whole month of celebration. Peanuts aren’t actually considered to be a nut! They are in the legume family, which also contains things like peas and beans. Peanuts grow underground and take about 4-5 months to grow depending on the variety.

Packed with Protein

Did you know that peanuts have more protein than any other nut? Peanuts are a very good source of protein, niacin, and folate. Peanuts are naturally cholesterol-free and are filled with great phytonutrients to help your brain and your body! Peanuts are known to help lower your blood pressure, too!

NUT-ritious Health Benefits

You can reduce your blood pressure by eating foods that are low in saturated fat, total fat, and cholesterol. According to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, you should be consuming nuts 4-5 times a week. Large population studies show that when eaten in small amounts daily, peanuts reduce the risk of many chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Peanuts, peanut butter, and peanut oils have great lipid lowering effects and may reduce inflammation, which is one of the underlying causes that triggers chronic disease.

Get More Peanuts in Your Day

Here are some healthy ways to add peanuts into your daily lifestyle: