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Sometimes known as groundnut oil or arachis oil, peanut oil is a light golden oil often used in Asian and Middle Eastern cooking, salads and sautéing.
With a high smoking temperature, and a smooth nutty flavour, peanut oil is a family favourite of the Olivado range. Our inspired cold-pressed extraction method allows us to retain all the goodness from the nut during the process of bottling it as a healthy oil.
The history of the peanut
The peanut comes from South America, probably north-west Argentina. We say probably because there are no fossil records to prove this, but peoples from that area made pottery in the shape of peanuts, and decorated jars with them as early as 1500 BC.
By the time the conquistadors arrived, the peanut had spread and been cultivated as far north as Mexico, and was brought back by the Spanish to Europe. From there it spread around the world, becoming an agricultural backbone of South East Asia.
Peanuts were introduced to North America in the 1700s, but weren’t grown commercially for another century. Used primarily as animal feed, it wasn’t until the Civil War that the nutritional value of peanuts was recognised.
Both sides in the war sustained on the high protein count contained in the nut, and when hostilities were over, soldiers brought them back home, spreading them all over the country. Today, the USA is the third largest exporter of peanuts, behind Argentina and China, with a value over two billion dollars to the US economy.
Wide use of peanuts in cuisine
Peanuts are incredibly versatile, and can be eaten raw, salted, roasted. As an ingredient, they can be made into oil, peanut butter, or made into margarine.
Whole or chopped peanuts are popular in Asian cuisine and give satay sauce its addictive quality. They’re often served as a garnish on noodles and stir-fries. They’re also good in baking and can be baked into cookies or pies.
Interestingly, peanuts aren’t actually a nut, they are a legume. This is because of its edible shell and the seeds within the shell. The peanut is a closer relation to a bean or a pea than it is to an actual nut.
Health benefits of peanuts
Decreased risk of heart disease
Peanuts have been shown to be one of the most cardio-protective whole foods available, and a handful of peanuts eaten five or more times a week can cut the risk of heart disease by 50%.
Peanuts are packed with monounsaturated fats, which help lower the bad type of cholesterol, while at the same time raising the good type. They have low amounts of saturated fat, and zero amount of trans fats.
These heart benefits have been found in all ages, in male or female, and even in those with various medical conditions, such as diabetes.
Peanuts can lower the risk of stroke
A recent study published in the journal BMC Medicine, found that an intake of 100 mg of magnesium per day, resulted in a 9% decrease of stroke. 100mg of magnesium can be found in only a single bag of peanuts (250gms).
Peanuts help to fight cancer
Peanut oil contains high levels of antioxidants, which help fight off free radicals. These are dangerous molecules which attach to your cells, mutating them and causing a number of diseases in the body, including cancer.
Peanuts keep the mind strong
Peanuts are packed with Vitamin E, an antioxidant shown to eliminate or slow the onset of cognitive disorders like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. In fact, 25 grams of peanuts contain 20% of our daily recommended allowance of Vitamin E.
Peanuts lower blood pressure
Peanuts oil contains resveratrol, which interacts with various hormones which negatively affect blood vessels. By fighting these hormones, resveratrol can help lower blood pressure, reducing the risk of a heart attack.
Our delicious extra virgin peanut oil
Modern science is finally catching up to the old wives’ tales and proving that peanuts are good for you!
Many of the nutrients, vitamins, and antioxidants found in peanut oil are lost in the traditional extraction process, which is why we developed our cold pressed method.
This cold extraction preserves all the natural goodness of raw, unroasted peanuts.
Our Extra Virgin Peanut Oil contains no trans fats, additives, preservatives or artificial ingredients, and is perfect for Asian and Middle Eastern cooking.
Buy yours today, or check out the rest of our exceptional oils here.
If you have any queries about Olivado, or our products, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
