Peanut plants take about 120 to 150 days to seed after sowing. The process of peanut development is very interesting! After self-pollination, its yellow flowers develop into "ovaries" called pedicels, which quickly elongate, turn downward, and bury themselves deep in the ground, from which the fruits develop into what we know as peanut pods.
For harvesting, the entire plant consists of digging up the roots from the soil. Each plant can hold 10-150 pods. The pods have a thick wrinkled shell with 2-3 contractions in the pod. Each peanut kernel is covered with a paper-thin brown layer and can be split in half like any other bean.
Peanuts are rich in energy and contain nutrients, minerals, antioxidants and vitamins that are beneficial to health. They constitute sufficient levels of monounsaturated fatty acids, especially oleic acid, which helps lower LDL or "bad cholesterol" and increase HDL or "good cholesterol" levels in the blood. Studies have shown that a Mediterranean diet rich in monounsaturated fatty acids can help prevent coronary artery disease and stroke risk, favoring healthy serum lipids.
In addition, studies have shown that resveratrol may reduce stroke risk by altering molecular mechanisms in the blood vessels, reducing susceptibility to vascular injury by decreasing the activity of angiotensin, a systemic hormone responsible for vasoconstriction that raises blood pressure, and increasing the vasodilator hormone, nitric oxide. Recent studies have shown that roasting as well as boiling increases the bioavailability of antioxidants in peanuts. Boiled peanuts have been found to have a two-fold and four-fold increase in the content of the isoflavone antioxidants biotin-A and genistein, respectively.
Peanuts are available in the market every year. At the store, the forms vary; one can find shelled, shelled, salted and sweetened. Try to buy shelled nuts rather than processed ones. They are usually available in sealed packages and bulk boxes. Pods should have compact, grayish-white healthy shells that are uniform in size and heavy to the touch. They should be free of cracks, mold and spots and have no rancid odor. Shelled peanuts can be kept in a cool, dry place for several months, while unshelled nuts should be kept in airtight containers and stored in the refrigerator to prevent them from spoiling.
Peanut nuts are usually eaten by cracking them between machines with firm pressure. Nuts can also be enjoyed roasted, boiled, pickled or sweetened. They are nuts but have a sweet flavor. Roasting enhances flavor, increases antioxidant levels such as p-coumaric acid, and helps remove toxic aflatoxins. Roasted and crushed kernels are often sprinkled on salads, desserts, especially sundaes and other dairy products.
Peanut allergy is a hypersensitivity reaction in some people to food substances prepared using these nuts. The overreaction of the immune system may manifest itself in severe physical symptoms such as vomiting, stomach pains, swelling of the lips and throat leading to difficulty in breathing, congestion of the chest and sometimes even death. Therefore, it is recommended to avoid any food preparation containing peanut products in these individuals.
