There are probably few people in the world who have not tried peanuts at least once. But not everyone knows that peanuts are not nuts. They are called peanuts because they know this fruit. Actually, they are the seeds of a plant of the legumes family, close relative of the beans and peas. Originally from South America, they are cultivated mainly in China and India. Its second name is peanut, since its ripe fruit on earth.
Cacahuete is used a lot in various fields of human activity: food, medicine, cosmetology. The reason are its nutritional qualities, the content of various substances and its price.
Cacahuete composition
From the chemical point of view, these “nuts” have a unique combination of the most diverse compounds. The composition includes almost all vitamins, mineral compounds – about half of the Mendeleev periodic table, biologically active substances that are necessary for the normal functioning of the human body. All of them in combination have a positive effect on the functioning of most organs and systems.
Peanut oil has a special value; It represents 58% of all nutrients in peanut seeds and is used not only as food, but also for medicinal purposes. Its caloric value is more than 600 kcal per 100 g of product. Its composition includes fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. Regular use of this oil reduces cholesterol levels, improves performance, increases metabolic processes.
The properties of peanuts for children
Peanut is a valuable food product, since it contains many vegetable fats and valuable proteins. You can eat pure or mixed in different dishes. Peanuts can be bought in small packages, with various additives (salt, sugar, spices).
They usually like both adults and children, since they have a very pleasant flavor and a low price. Peanut seeds contain almost all useful substances that a growing body needs and are easily assimilable by it. They are valuable vegetable fats. They are vitamins E, A, D, B, C, pp. They are polysaturated fatty acids.
They are proteins, composition similar to animal proteins. They are minerals: iron, calcium, zinc, iodine, etc. They are antioxidants and other biologically active substances. Therefore, nuts, including peanuts, must be included in the children’s diet. Substances containing peanuts are good for work:
- Cardiovascular system organs;
- endocrine system;
- lymphatic system;
- nervous system
- digestive system;
- excretory system.
What is its usefulness?
Without a doubt, peanut is useful for children for their rich composition.
- Vitamins stimulate the child’s metabolic processes, improve immunity.
- Fatty acids normalize cholesterol levels, improve the functioning of the liver, stomach, intestines and heart.
- Mineral components intervene in hematopoiesis, regulate growth and metabolic processes.
- Proteins are easy to digest and enrich cells with the necessary amino acids.
- Antioxidants normalize blood coagulation reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
- Regular consumption of these fruits significantly reduces the risk of tumors.
Research in neurosurgery, psychiatry and neurology have shown that many nuts, including peanuts, decrease the probability of suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.
Damages and contraindications
Despite such unquestionable benefits, there is a small amount of tar. These are:
Allergies
This disease is a defensive reaction of the organism to a substance that considers harmful. It can be congenital or acquired. In any case, it should not be neglected. It is the most common disease on Earth and affects 40% of the population. The main symptoms are:
- sneezing;
- Cutaneous eruptions such as urticaria, rashes, even eczema;
- tear, red eyes;
- runny nose;
- Soft tissue inflammation: pharynx, nasopharynx, eyelids, lips, nose;
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.
But the most serious manifestation of allergy is, of course, anaphylactic shock. Its main symptoms are: weakness, rapid descent from blood pressure, heart rate acceleration, dizziness and loss of knowledge. If it is not treated in time, it can be deadly. Therefore, allergic must always have antiallergic medications at hand.
Availability of antinutrients
They are present not only in peanuts, but also in other nuts, and prevent the absorption of certain nutrients. Phytic acid, for example, prevents the absorption of iron and zinc. Vitamin C can help with this problem.
Children should not be given raw or without peel, they can contain fungi and other microorganisms, which can cause poisoning.
It is convenient to limit the consumption of peanuts if the child suffers from gastrointestinal diseases, since there is a risk of suffering strong gases and diarrhea, and even constipation, stomach acidity, scholarships, etc.
At what age can children eat peanuts?
Different doctors give different recommendations about the age at which children can eat these fruits. And it is still an open issue. According to various sources, it ranges between 2 and 5 years. The reasons argued are the following
- Children under 2-3 are more likely to suffer allergies;
- Before 2 years there is the possibility of choking or hurting the mucosa of the mouth, because the teeth are still weak and the child cannot chew food well;
- Before 3 years, the child’s gastrointestinal tract cannot completely digest this food.
As for peanuts, some experts recommend introducing them to the children’s diet not before 5 or 6 years, since of all nuts are the most frequently allergic. However, there are scientists who hold the opposite opinion. They believe that early consumption of nuts in children helps prevent allergies.
How to choose the right so as not to harm health
The peanut has a high nutritional value and an affordable price. In this sense, it is very popular among buyers and producers. Reason is availability and cost. The peanuts are sold raw and processed, packaged and without packaging, with shell and peeled. In addition, there is a wide range of products that contain it in a processed way.
When buying entire nuts, in the first place you have to pay attention to the freshness and product quality. This must be done with special care if they are going to consume children. If peanuts are packaged, they should not have remains, be wrinkled, damaged or darkened. Raw peanuts should not be wet or smell bad. The shell must be intact, clean and dry.
If you buy peanut butter or peanut paste, pay attention to your appearance, expiration date and additives. The container must be intact, without damage or deformations and not swollen. If there is the slightest suspicion, you must rule out this purchase. It is important to remember that the children’s body reacts more quickly and intensity than that of adults.
How to introduce food in a child’s diet
5 or 6-yea r-old children can easily orient among the variety of food. And prefer more harmful than healthy foods. The task of adults is to teach their children healthy food from an early age. But young children have to introduce unknown food little by little. It is better to start with 1-2 nuts and bring them little by little to 10. It will be good for the fruit to be crushed and mixed with a product, already familiar to the child.
It is possible to combine nuts with honey, jam, pour nut crumbs into cookies, cakes, ice cream and even porridge. Just a little, not to cause flavor aversion. And when the baby gets used to appearance and taste, gradually increase the dose.
How is it better to give
Any dry fruit should not be whole, it is better to crush it, so there is no possibility of choking and damaging the mucosa of the mouth, and the taste may not like the first time. The best way is to make peanut paste. The essential ingredients are nuts, salt and honey or sugar.
- Walnuts are bite well in a blender or kitchen robot.
- Salt and honey (sugar, jam) are added, and they are mixed well for 10-15 minutes. And that’s it. The pasta is ready.
Guard it in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. This product is very nutritious and filling, so giving it a child should not be much. The first time will be enough to make a small snack with bread, bun or cookies. You can mix it with any dessert and add it to meat dishes, fish or vegetables.
How much can be given
Naturally, any unknown food should be given with caution, only a bit every time, including peanuts. Young children are allowed to mix with known foods, and in small quantities. The presence or absence of allergies and reactions of the digestive system must be immediately investigated.
If they are not detected, it can be included safely in child feeding. But. The nuts themselves, a very caloric product, and it follows that giving it much not. The maximum permitted peanut dose for a child is 10 seeds. This is the amount that fits in the palm of your hand.
Cacahuetes allergy in children
Allergies have become the perdition of humanity in recent years. Almost one in two inhabitants of the Earth is subject to this disease. Children are affected more frequently, since their immune system is still weak. Of all nuts, peanuts are the most common food allergy.
The symptoms are various skin rashes, swelling of soft tissues, sneezing, coughing, nasal and ocular secretion, diarrhea, vomiting, intestinal cramps and, in severe cases, anaphylactic shock. If any of these reactions occurs, an antihistamine must be administered to the child and call the doctor.
Recommendations for peanut consumption
Over the years, doctors and other experts have discussed the question of the consumption of peanuts in children, and have reached this conclusion
- Peanuts can be consumed by children from 4 months, since the immune system is reinforced and the risk of subsequent allergic reactions is reduced. But. It is better to do it with extreme caution and under the supervision of a healthcare professional.
- The introduction to these nuts should be done gradually, increasing the dose of 1 dry fruit to 10.
- For children under 2 years of age it is better to crush the product before using it.
- So that the child does not immediately reject the peanuts, can add them in small amounts to dishes that are relatives.
- If the child is allergic to peanuts, the products that contain them should be avoided.
- Children who suffer from gastrointestinal diseases should be careful with peanuts, since they can cause indigestion, intense gases and various intestinal disorders.
Peanut is one of the usual ingredients of modern cuisine. It is used a lot in pastry, added as a spice. It contains many diverse substances. The vegetable fats of its composition are used in cosmetology, in perfumery, in medicine.
And, more importantly, it is cheap. At the same time, it is the walnut with the highest incidence of food allergies. But modern science is progressing and has made it possible to fight successfully against this disease.
