Health Benefits Help Peanuts Shed Stigma

Peanuts, a dietary outcast during the fat-phobic 1990s, have made a comeback, with consumption soaring to its highest level in nearly two decades and more doctors recommending nuts as part of a heart-healthy diet.

Total consumption of peanuts jumped last year to nearly 1.7 billion pounds, compared to 1.5 billion pounds the year before. The amount of snack peanuts eaten climbed to 415 million pounds in the 2003-2004 crop year, the highest since the mid-1990s. And peanut butter consumption soared to 900 million pounds, from a low of about 700 million in the '90s.

The federal government's latest dietary guidelines say peanuts, which contain unsaturated fats, can be eaten in moderation. There are 14 grams of fat in one serving of peanuts, which is only one ounce. A handful can have up to 200 calories.

``The problem is that the portions need to be low so you don't overconsume the calories - that's where the public has a disconnect,'' said Madelyn Fernstrom, director of the Weight Management Center at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. ``It's a well-spent 200 calories if you can limit it to that. The problem is volume. It's very hard to have a small serving of peanuts, meaning a small handful.''

The Peanut Institute: http://www.peanut-institute.org/

Steve - The peanut lobby has spoken! Peanuts, if tolerated from a digestive and allergenic standpoint, are fine. Let us not forget that peanuts are one of the top seven most allergenic substances. We do not suggest eating them on a daily basis because an allergen can be developed over time. We still prefer consuming other nuts more frequently, such as almonds, walnuts, pecans, and cashews. Make sure that you look at the labels of any peanut product you intend to consume. There are often unhealthy added oils and trans fats such as partially hydrogenated and hydrogenated oils. If you are pregnant or nursing, exclude peanuts from your diet to prevent allergy with your baby. Do not eat the shells because most of the aflatoxin, the very dangerous allergenic trigger in peanuts, resides here. Also, if you have a mold or fungus sensitivity or allergy, peanuts are not recommended.