Peanuts – Simple, Favourite and Nutritious nuts for the family

Peanut Leaves and freshly dug pods, 
South Carolina, USA

Photo by: Pollinator

We have seen the benefits of Walnuts – the Brain food in our previous post. 

Now let us see how PEANUTS are helpful for our health. These nuts are quite common among us and often used in various forms like roasted peanuts, boiled peanuts, peanuts cakes and also used in many forms in our kitchen including peanut oil. 

These nuts are also called ground nuts. Everyone like to eat these nuts while traveling, chatting, viewing TV, while reading books, or walking etc., because these tasty nuts are easily available throughout the year in all departmental stores, even in petty shops on the street corners. These nuts are also cheaper than other nuts. 

In fact, peanut is a “legume” rather than a “nut” although it is called nut colloquially. Now let us go to the health benefits of this nut in short.

Peanut Flower Photo by: Tu7uh

Mound of Peanuts, Senegal Photo by: Karah24

Peanuts are an excellent source of vitamin E which is a powerful lipid soluble antioxidant which helps to maintain the integrity of cells and skin by protecting from harmful oxygen free radicals. 

Peanuts are a great source of concentrated protein as well. 

In fact, Peanuts have a long list of Protein, Vitamins and Metals, minerals that. Just see the image to the right about the Nutrition information from US Department of Agriculture (USDA) about the nutritional value of 100 grams of raw Peanuts.

These nuts are packed with many B complex vitamins like Niacin, Thiamine, Pantothenic acid, Vitamin 6 and Folates. They are rich sources of minerals like copper, potassium, calcium, iron, zinc, manganese, selenium, protein etc., which are required for smooth functioning of our body.

Peanuts also contain fiber which helps for the easy bowel movement. Fiber is also good for digestion. Regular intake of these nuts may help lower risk of colon cancer and also formation of gallstones.

Munch Bar made of Peanut Brittle Photo by: Evan-Amos

Kabukim, crunchy coated peanuts popular in Israel Photo by: Shomroni

The vitamins present in peanuts help to maintain healthy skin and hair as well healthy muscle tone. The potassium present in peanuts helps regulate the body’s water levels to normal metabolism of food which prevents cramping.

The worlds’ main peanut producing countries are China, India and United States of America. 

Peanuts, that too mainly Boiled peanuts possess good taste and enrich their nutritional and antioxidants profile. 

Squirrel with Peanuts
Photo by: Jamie McCaffrey

Peanut is a favourite snack for many and even for some of our friendly animals.

Here we have to note that India’s father of Nation Mahatma Gandhi’s favorite diet was peanuts and goat milk.

Have a Crunchy and healthy snack by including the various nuts like Walnuts, Cashew nuts, Almonds, Pisthachios and peanuts in your diet

Tomatoes - Sauce, Salad, Juice, Pizza, others. Many uses and Many benefits.

In my previous post we discussed about benefits of grapes. Now we can see about the health benefits of TOMATOES.

We can see always these three vegetables onions, potatoes, and tomatoes stored in every kitchen shelf. One way or other they are used in our daily dishes. These have become our traditional vegetables. I have given the medicinal benefits and usages of onions in one of my previous posts. Hope you would have gone through that post. Now it is the turn of Tomatoes. 

Handful of different tomatoes
from Ho Farms in
Kahuku, Hawaii.
Photo courtesy of USDA NRCS

Tomatoes are part of nightshade family like potatoes and eggplants. Even though they are fruits they are considered as vegetables. Ripe tomatoes should be used within two or three days and it is better never refrigerate them since in cold temperature their flavor is lost and the flesh turns grainy. 

The word tomato comes from Spanish word tomate. Tomatoes are grown worldwide for its edible uses. It is learnt that there are more than 7500 varieties of tomatoes are grown in various purposes. They are grapes tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, plum tomatoes and so on.  Hybrid plants are common.

What are all the medicinal benefits of tomatoes?

Tomatoes contain the bright-red carotene lycopene which is one of the natural powerful anti-oxidants. Studies reveal that lycopene especially in cooked tomatoes help to prevent prostate CANCER. Consumption of tomatoes has been associated with decreased risk of breast cancer, head and neck cancers also.

Tomatoes are beneficial for reducing cardiovascular risk associated with type II diabetes. They are sweet, juicy and delicious with low in calories and fat free. They are good sources of Vitamin A, C, K with Folate and Potassium. They are low in Sodium, Saturated fat, Cholesterol.

They also provide Thiamine, Niacin, Vitamin B-6, Magnesium, Phosphorus, and Copper which are very essential medicinal properties for keeping good health. The vitamin A present in tomato helps  improve vision.

Tomatoes help skin to protect against sun damage. The content of lycopene makes skin less sensitive to UV light damage. It also helps in building strong bones because of Vitamin K and Calcium. They are very good source of Chromium which helps to regulate blood sugar levels. 

Green unripe tomatoes
Photoby: TigerisLagoona

Another interesting report is tomatoes can prevent kidney stones and gallstones when eaten without seeds.

Tomato can be consumed as raw, can be made as a healthy juice, and can be mixed in salads, or in cooking of dishes. Tomatoes pickles are very good to eat. Unripe tomatoes like the ones in the photo can also be used in cooking. 

If you have anything more about this wonder vegetable please free to add here. Also feel free to put your questions or comments. Also, provide any feedback on the topics or contents. 

Papaya fruit - Full of Vitamins and Minerals

In continuation of the several natural remedies discussed in previous posts for diabetes, here is another fruit PAPAYA which contains anti-diabetic properties which are very helpful for diabetic patients specially those suffering from type II diabetes.

Most Naturopathy, Homeopathic, even Allopathic doctors are recommending this fruit for diabetic patients. This beneficial fruit contains many properties and can be used to treat many problems.

Papaya Tree

Let us see Papaya’s origin. It is native to tropical regions of America and cultivated in southern Mexico. Now it is cultivated in the other parts of the world including India. 

Papaya is melon like fruit with yellow-orange flesh; it contains large part of water.  

This is a very easy tree to grow in your home backyard. Just plant a few seeds of a ripe papaya and you will get a tree and fruits very quickly.

Papaya contains many medicinal properties - Anti-oxidants, Vitamin B, vitamin C, Pantothenic acid or Vitamin B5, minerals like Potassium, Magnesium, Fibre,  Folic acid etc. These promote the health of cardio-vascular system and provide protection against cancer.

Because Papaya contains vitamin A and C, it helps body’s immune system. The vitamin A which helps to prevent constipation, helps to maintain healthy mucus membranes and helps for the eye sight and to the skin.

Papaya contains papain enzyme which helps to lower inflammation in the body thereby healing wounds and burns. This enzyme helps to digest proteins by breaking the proteins thus helping to improve digestion and also cleansing the digestive track. If proteins are not digested it may cause Arthritis, Constipation, Diabetes, High blood pressure and other related problems

This fruit plays major role in preventing colon cancer since it contains fiber. Fiber does not allow the cancer cells to grow. 

Ripe Papaya fruit and seeds

Papaya is very low in calories say just 39/100 gm and contains no cholesterol. It contains soft and easily digestive flesh with good amount of soluble dietary fiber.  

Raw papaya has higher concentration of nutritional elements than ripe one. Its seeds and leaves also have medicinal effects. The seeds are very effective remedy for stomach problems, ring worm etc.

Papaya is also rich in many essential B complex vitamins like folic acid, pyridoxine (vitamin B6), thiamine (B1).These properties play vital role in metabolism.

This sweet fruit also contains good amount of potassium (257/mg per 100 g) and calcium. These properties are helping in controlling heart and blood pressure problems by countering effects of sodium.

Papaya is very useful for motion sickness. The medicinal property called Folate with vitamin C and E helps in various ailments

How to use: Unripe raw papaya can be used in cooking like other vegetables. Remove the skin with the help of peeler knife and remove the seeds then you can use it as you like. Some tips are given below.

Ripe papaya can be taken as it is after peeling, or with few drops of lemon, it can also be taken as juice and small pieces can be added in the fruit salad.

One important information: After the details study which reveals that the juice from the leaves of this plants is well aiding to cure DENGUE fever, Tamil Nadu State Government is promoting this herb at all government hospitals in the state. The juice obtained from these leaves increases the platelet counts the patients affected by dengue fever. Check out the related news link here

I have given the medicinal benefits of this wonder fruit and the usages. I suggest every one of us can take this fruit in any form at least once a week to get its benefits. Do let me know your valuable feedback or comments

you can give your comments or for any questions you can write in the comments so that others also may know about it and will bebenefited thanks