The peanut, has made a comeback and consumption has soared to its highest level in nearly two decades with more and more doctors recommending the nuts as part of a heart-healthy diet.
The federal government's latest dietary guidelines now acknowledge that peanuts, which contain monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat, can be consumed in moderation.
Lona Sandon with the <<>> says it is now known that the type of fat found in peanuts is actually good for us, it doesn't clog arteries like saturated fat and it helps keep the arteries clean but only if peanuts are consumed "in moderation," as a handful can have up to 200 calories. Madelyn Fernstrom, director of the Weight Management Centre at the <<>> says portions need to be low so you don't overconsume the calories.
During the fat-phobic 1990s peanut consumption dwindled when the government began requiring nutrition labels on food products, which show peanuts to be high in fat and consumption of peanut butter and snack peanuts plummeted as Americans switched to lowfat diets. The peanut industry responded with studies showing the health benefits of peanuts and the campaign worked with consumption of peanuts increasing last year to nearly 1.7 billion pounds.
In the 1990s American consumers overlooked the fact that the humble peanut contains a respectable list of nutrients and are a good source of fibber and protein.They also contain a small amount of resveratrol, the antioxidant in red wine that has been linked to the "French Paradox" - a low incidence of heart disease among the French, despite their love of cheese and other high-fat foods.