10 Of The Best Ways Peanuts Have Contributed To Society
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

10 Of The Best Ways Peanuts Have Contributed To Society

An ode to America's favorite legume on National Peanut Day.

56
10 Of The Best Ways Peanuts Have Contributed To Society

Peanuts are without a doubt one of the most versatile foods out there. Baseball game staple? Check. Delicious and high in protein? Check. Able to be added to any dish and improve it a thousand times over? Double check.

Peanuts are so widely appreciated, in fact, that September 13 has been designated "National Peanut Day." Though peanuts can (and should) be enjoyed every day, here are 10 reasons they really are the best thing ever.

Peanuts are notoriously high in nutrients.

First off, peanuts are just really good for you. Besides being high in protein, healthy fats, and fiber, they contain high amounts of vitamins and minerals like Vitamin B3, folate, pantothenic acid, Vitamin B6, Vitamin E, magnesium, potassium, zinc, and iron.

They've been proven to combat disease.

Studies have linked eating peanuts to reduced risk of blood clots, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and respiratory diseases, as well as lower cholesterol. Obviously, the high calorie content makes moderation key, but when eaten in small amounts regularly, the health benefits are nuts.

They're used to make peanut butter.

Do I even need to elaborate on this one? Peanut butter is one of the most versatile (and delicious) substances known to man. You can spread it on a sandwich or toast. You can dip apple slices and celery sticks in it. You can add it to smoothies and milkshakes. You can cover it in chocolate. And, at the end of the day, you can always eat it straight from the jar.

They're not just for the sweet of tooth.

Peanuts have long been a component in savory dishes like peanut noodles, peanut satay, and peanut soup. Even if the sweet-and-nutty flavor scheme isn't really your thing, you're sure to find a peanut dish you love.

Peanuts can be used to feed livestock.

While peanuts can be fed whole to livestock, they are most often fed in the form of "peanut cakes," or leftover residue from oil processing. These cakes are rich in protein and provide ample nutrition to livestock while reducing waste from oil byproducts.

Peanuts are an aphrodisiac.

L-arginine, an amino acid found in peanuts, is converted to nitric oxide in the body. Nitric oxide makes blood vessels widen, which is obviously a huge boost for sexual health and performance.

You can use peanut shells around the house.

The National Peanut Board has come up with some surprising uses for peanut shells: cat litter, mulch, charcoal, a rock salt alternative, and packaging for fragile items. Instead of wasting any part of a peanut, you can use them around your house and save money on store-bought products.

Peanut butter can come in handy around the house, too.

OK, I already added peanut butter to this list, but it's just too good to not list it twice. This stuff can be used to get gum out of your hair, to rub off those sticky label adhesives, to shave, and most importantly, to get your dog to take its medicine.

Peanuts can be used in the production of dynamite.

Oil derived from peanuts can produce glycerol. Glycerol can be transformed into nitroglycerin, which is a component of dynamite. Though peanuts are not the world's only source of glycerol by far, it's still kind of cool that something so tasty could be used for something so explosive.

Peanuts can be turned into allergen-free oil.

Allergic to peanuts? Never fear—you, too, can benefit from the existence of this super-legume. Refined peanut oil goes through a process that removes allergenic proteins, and the FDA excludes the substance from allergen-labeling requirements. Though those with extreme allergies might have to steer clear just in case of accidental contamination, refined peanut oil is widely-used in cuisine and still able to be enjoyed by people who can't have other peanut products.

A peanut is more than a simple trail mix ingredient—it's a legume that believed in itself, that was cultivated and transformed by George Washington Carver into the versatile and inclusive food we know today. Take today, National Peanut Day, to celebrate all the ways the humble peanut has shaped your life by enjoying your favorite peanut products. And, because they're so good, do the same thing tomorrow. And the next day. And the day after that.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

43617
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

27433
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

952314
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

147249
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments