Peanuts are often thought of as nuts, but they are actually in the family of legumes. You may wonder if they are good for those who are called diabetics. Peanuts can be salted, roasted in their shells, made into peanut butter, or roasted in oil and seasoned. Peanuts, like beans and other legumes, are a great source of fiber, which helps keep your blood sugar under control and your bowel movements regular. Peanuts are also good for your heart and blood pressure because they have minerals and fiber in them. Peanuts also have a low glycemic index, which is important for people with diabetes. This means that compared to other foods, peanuts raise blood sugar very slowly. If you want to steer clear of peanuts that have added fats and select peanuts that are free of the potentially hazardous trans-fat, it's best to stick with dry-roasted peanuts. If you keep an eye on your blood sugar levels, a small number of salted peanuts shouldn't raise them, but a large amount could. Peanuts are full of healthy fats, protein from plants, fiber, minerals, and antioxidants. They also have a lot of B vitamins. They also have more omega-6 fatty acids than most other nuts, which is good for your heart health. They are also easy to find and often cheaper than cashews, almonds, and other nuts. A low-carb diet that included peanuts and almonds was shown to improve fasting blood sugar levels in a trial that was conducted not too long ago and involved 25 participants with type 2 diabetes over the course of three months.
- Diabetes And the Risks of Peanuts
Even though peanuts are very healthy, not all foods made with peanuts are good for people with diabetes. Some peanut products, like peanut butter, may have salt, oil, or sugar added to them. Peanuts also have a lot of fat and calories, which can make you gain weight if you don't watch how much you eat. Find out more about diabetes and how much to eat. Before adding peanuts to your diet, you should also make sure you don't have an allergy since some people can develop allergies that can kill them. Most raw peanuts are safe to eat, but they can get contaminated with a mold that makes toxins that can be dangerous if eaten in large amounts.
- Nutrition Facts
Peanuts have a similar nutritional value to most nuts, which are mostly made up of protein and fats. According to the USDA National Nutrient Database, 1 oz. of salted peanuts, which is about the same as a small handful, has about 168 calories, 4.9 g of protein, 14.6 g of fat, 7.2 g of carbs, 2.6 g of fiber, and 1.3 g of sugar. One cup of salted peanuts has about 814 calories, 23.7 g of protein, 70.5 g of fat, 34.7 g of carbohydrates, 12.3 g of fiber, and 6.4 g of sugar. Your blood sugar will rise after you eat, especially if the food you ate was high in carbohydrates. Protein and fat don't change your blood sugar levels, but carbohydrates break down into glucose, or sugar, which can quickly raise your blood sugar levels. If you don't have diabetes, your body will respond correctly and make the right amount of insulin to keep your blood sugar from getting too high. But if you have insulin resistance, prediabetes, or diabetes, eating a lot of carbohydrates at once could cause your blood sugar levels to rise above the recommended target, which could damage your tissues and organs.
- What Do Peanuts Do to Blood Sugar?
Peanuts and nuts usually don't have a big effect on your blood sugar because they don't have a lot of carbohydrates. A small handful, or about 1 oz., of peanuts, only has 7 g of carbohydrates, which is probably not enough to raise your blood sugars much unless you eat them with something else that has carbohydrates. If you eat peanuts and a can of cola at the same time, the soft drink will cause your blood sugar to rise. But if you only have peanuts and don't watch how much you eat and keep eating handful after handful of peanuts, you could end up eating a lot of carbs. For instance, one cup of peanuts has close to 35 grams of carbs, which is sufficient to cause an increase in one's blood sugar levels.
- Try Them Out.
Everyone reacts differently to food, and how much your blood sugar goes up after eating certain foods will depend on how much you can handle carbs. If you have diabetes, use your glucometer to see what happens to your blood sugar after you eat peanuts or other foods you eat often. You can get a blood glucose meter and testing strips from a drugstore and try out different foods to see how your body reacts to them. This experiment will help you learn more about the connection between what you eat and how much sugar is in your blood. You can live a better and longer life by becoming knowledgeable on how to maintain blood sugar levels within the normal range.
- How Can I Make Peanuts a Bigger Part Of My Diet?
Raw or roasted peanuts that haven't been salted are a great choice for a healthy snack between meals. Because they have fiber, protein, and fat, they can help you feel less hungry and keep you from eating less healthy foods. Peanuts are a great addition to yogurts, salads, cereals, stir-fries, and fruit bowls. You could also spread sugar-free, natural peanut butter on your toast in the morning or make a sandwich for lunch. Try roasting peanuts in a pan or oven and adding garlic and spices instead of salt for a different taste. Peanuts can be really good for your blood sugar, heart health, and even your weight. Just make sure to read the labels on pre-made snacks and watch the size of your servings to get the most out of them.