For anyone who has tried or is currently on a Whole Foods Diet, it’s no surprise that peanuts aren’t the best. But, for those who don’t know, read on.
But first, peanuts are not nuts. They are actually legumes and belong to the same family as beans. Compared to nuts, peanuts have a soft outer shell and they grow underground, making them susceptible to toxins, like aflotoxin (a type of mycotoxin produced by Aspergillus molds).
Now, aflatoxins are toxic and highly carcinogenic, in fact, aflatoxin is a known carcinogen associated with liver cancer. And sadly, buying organic peanuts doesn’t prevent our exposure to this toxic carcinogen because this is merely the nature of the peanut. Therefore, if you eat peanuts, over a long period of time- even in small amounts- you are subjecting your body to a dangerous toxin.
And, legumes, like peanuts, contain anti-nutrient lectins; these sticky proteins are almost impossible to digest and have been shown to strip mucous from the small intestine. This function is one of the main causes of autoimmune diseases like IBS, Crohn’s, Colitis, Thyroiditis, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Arthritis. While it is true that many foods contain lectins, certain foods have a higher concentration of the substance. And legumes are also known to cause “Leaky Gut,” which increases inflammation in the gut.
But wait, there’s more:
- Peanuts are allergy causing.
- One of the most pesticide-contaminated crops (an important reason to choose organic should you continue to eat them).
- And they’re full of omega-6 fats that disrupt our omega 3:6 ratio. From the article:
“About 30% of the fatty acids in peanut butter are Omega-6 fatty acid linoleic acid. Excessive intake of Omega-6 fatty acids leads to inflammation and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Omega-6 is only beneficial for our bodies if the ratio of Omega-6 and Omega-3 is 3 to 1.”
With all the possible health dangers surrounding peanuts, and because there are other options available, it might not be terrible to either seriously cut down your intake or cut it out of your diet altogether.
