Peanut Oil Health Benefits

If you have loved your peanut butter sandwiches all through your childhood, you will definitely have a favorable attitude towards peanuts. Peanut oil, also known as groundnut oil, is used as a cooking medium in several parts of the world. In some parts, it is as commonly used as olive oil is used in Italy.

In recent years we have found that extra virgin olive oil has gained a lot of prominence due to its health benefits. However, peanut oil is as beneficial as other types of vegetable oils found today. Peanut oil is also known as the 'golden oil' due to its shiny yellow golden color.

Peanuts contain many healthy or essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, proteins, etc. Therefore, peanuts are considered as healthy foods. Peanut oil is popular in cooking and is specially used for stir fry or high temperature cooking. It is usually used for cooking French fries, fried chicken and other fried products.

• Peanut oil contains high levels of monounsaturated fatty acids that help in lowering the levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) in the body.
• It contains high amounts of vitamin E and phytosterols which are essential to get rid of the free radicals in blood.

• Another benefit of peanut oil is that it contains linoleic acid which is a precursor of prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are essential to carry out several important functions in the body like contraction and dilation of blood vessels, and other muscles in the body.

• Those including peanut cooking oil in moderate amounts in their diet regularly are believed to maintain proper levels of cholesterol and maintain proper heart health.

• The monounsaturated fats found in peanut oil help in lowering high blood pressure, which consequently reduces the risks of heart diseases.
• Peanut oil, when mixed with lime juice, is believed to help in the treatment of acne.

• Peanut oil health benefits also include its use in the prevention of several disorders of the stomach, like digestive problems, constipation, diarrhea, etc.
• According to nutrition facts, peanuts are rich sources of proteins. Therefore, including moderate amounts of peanut oil in meals every day can help in building muscle as well as strengthening body.

• Lastly, not exactly a health benefit, but one of the advantages of using peanut oil in cooking is that it has a specific aroma associated with it which makes food taste different as compared to that made in other oils.

When comparing between peanut oil and cotton seed oil, peanut oil surely has an advantage due to the number of health benefits associated with it. However, on the less brighter side, it is not as healthy as the extra virgin olive oil.

Consuming large amounts of peanut oil on a daily basis is definitely hazardous for health and can lead to building up of cholesterol which can lead to heart diseases. Secondly, people suffering from peanut allergy should keep away from it to avoid aggravating the condition.

Peanut oil, when consumed in moderate amounts, does not pose a health hazard. However, you need to make sure it is never eaten in raw form. Take care!