With verities of cooking oils
available on the market, it’s hard to know which ones are best for your health.
Peanut oil, also referred to as groundnut oil or arachis oil, is a
vegetable-derived oil made from the edible seeds of the peanut plant. Though
the peanut plant flowers above ground, the seeds or peanuts actually develop
underground. This is why peanuts are also known as groundnuts. It comes in a
number of varieties, including refined, unrefined, roasted, and
cold-pressed, which have slight differences in their nutritional value
and health benefits. Peanut oil is most commonly used in Asian cultures,
including that of China and Southeast Asian nations like Vietnam, Laos, and
Cambodia.
Nutrient Composition
Here is the nutritional breakdown
for one tablespoon of peanut oil:
Calories: 119
Fat: 14 grams
Saturated fat: 2.3 grams
Monounsaturated fat: 6.2 grams
Polyunsaturated fat: 4.3 grams
Vitamin E: 11% of the RDI
Phytosterols: 27.9 mg
Most of the health benefits of
peanut oil come from its diverse types of fatty acids, such as oleic acid,
stearic acid, palmitic acid, and linoleic acid, among others. Peanut oil has a
very safe balance that can boost your health in a variety of ways, in addition
to the health benefits from the other vitamins, minerals, and organic compounds
found in peanuts.
Impressive health benefits of this delicious cooking oil.
Boosts Heart Health: Peanut oil also contains monounsaturated fatty
acids, like oleic acid, which increase the levels of “good cholesterol”, called
HDL, in the blood. It actually helps to scrape off and reduce bad cholesterol
(LDL) & lower your risk of developing coronary heart diseases and strokes.
Prevents Cancer: Peanut oil has high levels of polyphenol antioxidants,
including resveratrol which eliminate free radicals, that are dangerous by-products
of cellular metabolism t causing a huge range of diseases like cancer.
Skin Care: It’s moderately rich in
vitamin E which keeps your skin looking young and healthy as you get older. Peanut
oil is efficiently important for the maintenance and health of the skin,
protecting it from the effects of free radicals that cause wrinkles, blemishes,
and other signs of premature aging.
Boosts Immune System: Adding peanut oil to your diet can keep you
healthy in yet another way, by stimulating your white blood cell production to
fend off any foreign agents in your body.
Lowers Blood Pressure: Resveratrol has another important function
in the body. It interacts with various hormones that affect blood vessels, like
angiotensin, which constricts vessels and arteries. Resveratrol helps decrease
blood pressure, which reduces stress on the cardiovascular system.
Prevents Cognitive Disorders: Resveratrol a multi-functional
antioxidant in peanut oil has also been shown to eliminate or slow the onset of
cognitive disorders like Alzheimer’s disease. Free radicals are responsible for
the breakdown of neural pathways in the brain, so antioxidants like resveratrol
can slow or stop that process very effectively.
Controls Cholesterol Levels: Peanut oil is cholesterol free, which
is one of the major factors contributing to complicated heart conditions such
as atherosclerosis. It can reduce your current levels of cholesterol due to the
presence of plant sterols.
Caution: Don’t go overboard when cooking with peanut oil,
as it can lead to weight gain. Obesity has a whole range of associated health
risks, so be careful and enjoy your meals responsibly!
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