5 Side Effects of Eating Peanuts in Excess Amount

Peanuts are a nutritious and delicious food that is enjoyed by many people around the world. They are a good source of protein, healthy fats, fiber, and essential vitamins and minerals. However, like any food, eating too many peanuts can have negative consequences for your health.

Excessive consumption of peanuts can lead to various side effects and health problems, including weight gain, high blood pressure, and digestive issues. Additionally, some people may be allergic to peanuts, which can cause severe allergic reactions and even be life-threatening in some cases.

In this article, we will explore the potential risks and side effects of eating peanuts in excess and provide tips on how to enjoy them in moderation while still reaping their many health benefits. By understanding the potential dangers of overindulging in peanuts, you can make informed choices about your diet and ensure that you stay healthy and safe.

# Are Highly Susceptible To Contamination

Regular consumption of peanuts is good for our health but we have to make sure that we are eating them in moderation and not too much as peanuts are considered to be susceptible to salmonella contamination.

As per Peanut Science, one of the most concerning toxins related to the peanuts is a mold that produces Aflatoxin, which is a carcinogen that increases the risk of liver cancer. It has been found consuming aflatoxin also reduces the growth rate in children Because of all these reasons, it is important to make sure that you are not eating too many peanuts.

Another interesting observation is that this contamination risk is associated even with organic peanuts and peanut butter. This is all because of the nature of the peanuts. Peanuts are not actually nuts but are legumes that have a soft, permeable pod and grows underground as they are part of the plant’s root system.

# Can Cause Allergic Reactions

Consuming peanuts are good for our health and it also provides a lot of beauty benefits for our skin and hair, but at the same time “Peanuts” is infamous as one of the most common food allergen.

Those who are allergic to peanuts should forget about eating peanuts, and in fact, they should try even to stay away from peanuts as it has been found that in some individuals peanut allergies can be so severe that may show allergic reactions even if they inhale the air contaminated with a tiny amount of peanut dust.

These people should even avoid eating food that contains even a tiny amount of peanut. In the worst case, peanut allergy may even cause life-threatening anaphylaxis.

# Contains Lectin

Eating too much of peanuts is bad for our health even because of the lectin present in them. Legumes like peanuts, soybean, etc. contain lectin, an antinutrient, a sticky substance which preserves the pest-resisting strategy in the plant.

Although this is good for the plant this is not so good for us as the stickiness and structure of the lectins makes them almost impossible to digest by our body. Lectins bound with the sugar present in our blood and cause inflammation and give rise to inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis.

# Lack Omega-3 Fatty Acids

The presence of Omega-6 fatty acid in peanuts make them very beneficial for our health but it is important to make sure that we don’t fall for these benefits and enjoy peanuts only in moderation.

This is because even though Peanuts are an excellent source of Omega-6 fatty acid, they lack Omega-3 fatty acid which is very important for maintaining our health, and, in fact, our body needs a combination of both Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids.

# Are Heavily Loaded With Pesticides

Because of the nature of peanuts, they are at a higher risk of growing molds in them ( being a legume they are more prone to get exposed by the higher temperature and hot humidity which acts as a suitable environment for the growth of molds).

Some Non-Organic farmers, try to tackle the problem of molds by using pesticides on the crop. By doing so, they may save the peanut crop from the growth of the molds but contaminate them with a high level of pesticides which can cause a headache, dizziness, irritation of the nose, throat, eyes or skin, thirst, nausea, diarrhea, nervousness, fatigue, sweating, vomiting, blurred vision etc.