In modern times, India stands among the globe's leading producers of groundnuts, also known as peanuts, and ranks as the second-largest producer of groundnut-derived 'peanut' oil. While a significant portion is consumed within the country, some quantities are exported. The unique properties and health advantages of groundnut oil have cemented its popularity as a favored cooking oil throughout India.
Traditionally, states like Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka have been pivotal in groundnut and peanut oil production. Over recent decades, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu have experienced substantial growth, whereas Gujarat and Maharashtra have witnessed a decline in production.
Peanuts in India are enjoyed in various forms. They're relished roasted or fried, utilized for oil extraction, and serve as a base for peanut butter creation. The versatile ways in which peanuts are consumed highlight their importance in Indian cuisine and culinary practices.
# Groundnut Oil is Anti-Inflammatory Groundnut oil is anti-inflammatory in nature. Inflammatory C-reactive protein in blood is indicative of chances of cardiovascular diseases. Certain fats, antioxidants, dietary fiber, arginine, and magnesium have been shown to help regulate inflammation. Peanut oil contains resveratrol which performs anti-inflammatory activity. This is achieved by effectively inhibiting lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production. Resveratrol exerts anti-inflammatory effects in microglia and astrocytes by restricting growth of different pro-inflammatory cytokines and important signaling molecules.
# Peanut Oil is anti-tumour and anti-cancerousOne of the greatest advantages of Groundnuts or groundnut oil is that this is very helpful in anti-cancer activity. It contains certain phyto-chemicals, such as β-sitosterol, campesterol, resveratrol, and sigmasterol, which help in prevention of different types of cancers, such as breast, colon and prostate. Studies conducted on rats have shown that these help in preventing tumors at all stages, whether in beginning or during progression.
Resveratrol prevents formation of free radicals which inhibit formation of tumour. Therefore, it acts as an antimutagen. This compound was found effective as a chemopreventive treatment for pulmonary metastasis of CT 26 cells in rats. Besides the groundnut oil, roasted peanuts and defatted peanut dregs also exhibited antimutagenic and antiproliferative effects at concentration levels of 100mg/ml. The proliferation of leukemia U937 and HL-60 cells was inhibited by 56 and 52% respectively at this level of concentration. A 10 year study on usefulness of consuming peanuts in women also showed that it may help in preventing cancer.
These studies have proven that peanuts, its products and even its by-products can have potential use as chemotherapeutic or chemopreventive agents.
# Groundnut Oil can improve Cardiovascular HealthGroundnut oil has also proven to be extremely helpful in improving cardiovascular health. Studies have shown that people of all age groups, whether males or females, and in different medical conditions who eat peanuts frequently, have a lower risk of heart diseases. Many epidemiological studies conducted over a period of 10 years in past have shown that people who ate nuts, including peanuts, four to five times in a week had a 30-50% reduction in cardiovascular diseases.
This is attributed to the decrease in LDL and total cholesterol levels which is due to low level of saturated fatty acids in peanuts, peanut oil or peanut butter. This reduction did not affect the levels of good cholesterol HDL.
These have shown to reduce development of atherosclerosis in animals even when atherosclerosis-inducing diet is given to the animals. This was because there was retardation in increase of aortic cholesteryl ester.
It shall be noted that the preventive effect of groundnuts or its oil or butter on atherosclerosis did not change with the change in the way it was consumed or the way it is processed (like, raw, roasted, unroasted, with salt or without salt, etc). Consumption of 56 g of peanuts daily for 4 weeks in any form resulted in significant increase in HDL and decrease in LDL, TAG and total cholesterol. This study outlines the fact that irrespective of the type of processing method used, the lipid-lowering effects of groundnuts were not compromised in processing.
# Helps prevent Cognitive Decline (Alzheimer’s Disease)Vitamin E and Niacin are two nutrients which are helpful in preventing the progress of Alzheimer’s disease. Peanut oil is rich in Vitamin E. Studies conducted on thousands of people of age 65 years or more have shown that niacin and Vitamin E consumed through food slow down the rate of cognitive decline. However, when Vitamin E is given in the form of supplement, it is not able to slow down cognitive decline.
Another bioactive component which is capable of arresting cognitive decline and prevent degeneration of other nerves is resveratrol. Peanuts are rich in this component as well.
# Groundnut Peanut Oil is anti diabeticPeanut oil is also known to lower the high blood sugar levels, especially of Type 2. It shall be noted that the people with Type 2 diabetes do not produce sufficient amount of insulin and it can not be used adequately by body. In studies conducted on rats and animals, it was observed that the presence of oleic acid in peanuts was able to reduce the Type 2 blood sugar levels. Those who were administered with high oleic acid were able to reverse the inhibitory effect of TNF-α on insulin, thereby increasing insulin production in body. Groundnut oil finally reversed the negative effects of inflammatory cytokines observed in obesity and noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus.
Similarly, in a study on more than 83,000 women conducted by Harvard School of Public Health, it was observed that women who ate peanuts at least 5 times a week reduced Type 2 diabetes by almost 30% compared with those who never ate it. Interestingly, this reduction happened irrespective of the existence of known risk factors of Type 2 diabetes, such as smoking, alcohol use, BMI or family history.