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Peanut Facts
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- Botanical Name: Arachi Hypogaea. Peanuts are a member
of the pea or legume family (Leguminosae). This is the third largest
family of flowering plants after the sunflower family (Campositae) and
the orchid family (Orchiaceae), with over 18,000 known species. The
word “legume” means “seed pod” and refers to
the fibrous case which covers the seeds. Other important members of
the legume family include peas, beans, soybeans, alfalfa, clover, rosewood
and black locust trees, and indigo.
- The Cooperating Plant: All green plants depend on
nitrogen in the soil for their growth. Peanuts and most other legumes
are unique in being able to take in atmospheric nitrogen for their own
growth, and to enrich the soil in the process. They do this by forming
a special partnership with certain soil bacteria (Rhizobia) which take
up residence in the root structure. The Rhizobia take up atmospheric
nitrogen from air in the soil, converting it into ammonia which the
plant processes into amino acids and other proteins needed for growth.
This cooperative relationship is called “mutualism”, and
the process is called “nitrogen fixation.”
- Areas of Crop Growth: Peanuts grow in warm temperate
areas around the world, with major crops in Africa, Asia and Indonesia.
The United States produces about 10% of the world’s peanut crop,
largely from the states of Georgia, Alabama and Texas.
- Famous Peanut Scientist: George Washington Carver
(1860-1943) was a famous African-American scientist who received his
M.S. degree in 1896 from Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanical
Arts (now Iowa State University). Booker T. Washington, founder of the
Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, invited Carver to head up the school’s
Agriculture Department. He did outstanding work in scientific agriculture,
and invented hundreds of useful products made from peanuts, including
peanut butter.
- Nutrients*: Peanuts are high in proteins, and have
a favorable ratio of unsaturated fats to saturated fats. Other important
nutrients contained in peanuts include calcium, magnesium, phosphorus,
potassium, niacin, folate and vitamin E. Peanuts have zero cholesterol.
Magnesium helps maintain normal muscle and nerve function,
steady heart rhythm and strong bones.
Niacin (also known as vitamin B3) is an essential nutrient
which helps release energy from food and which aids the body in synthesizing
DNA. Niacin helps the body’s skin, nervous and digestive systems
stay healthy.
Folic acid is a water soluble B vitamin which occurs naturally in
food. Folic acid is needed to make normal red blood cells and prevent
anemia. Researchers at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research
Center on Aging in Boston have established that homocysteine levels,
a byproduct of normal amino acid metabolism, are higher in elderly
people with low intake of B vitamins, especially folic acid. They
reported that high homocysteine levels are associated with increased
risk of stroke. In a recent nationwide health and nutrition survey,
NHANES III, memory loss was also associated with elevated homocysteine
levels; but those whose blood folic acid levels were in the upper
half seemed to be protected from memory loss even if their homocysteine
levels were high.
For more information, please consult the
following US government websites: www.usda.gov,
www.nutrition.gov
Also visit: www.nationalpeanutboard.com,
www.peanut-institute.com
- Herbology*: Chinese herbology has been developed
by skilled herbal practitioners over thousands of years. It is based
on the concept of balance in the human body, and relies on careful observation
of the effects of various foods and herbs on the human body. Herbologists
report that peanuts, generally brewed in combination with various herbs
and other foods, can be beneficial for children, lactating mothers and
senior citizens; and various such preparations are recommended for maintaining
good memory function, skin tone, normal sleep rhythms, etc.
- Just for Fun: Visit www.peanuts.com
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*In reporting on peanut nutrient profiles and
herbological information, we do not claim that Signs and Wonders®
Peanut Milk will cure or prevent any disease. We only affirm that our
beverage provides essential nutrients which help support the structure
and function of the healthy human body.
Aflatoxin Information
 Aflatoxin
is a carcinogenic substance produced by the mold Aspergillus Flavus. If peanuts
are not stored properly after harvest, this potentially harmful mold can develop
on the peanuts. Improper storage conditions consist of a warm and humid environment.
Peanuts normally contain 6.5-7.5% moisture content at harvest (decreasing over
time if stored properly). However, if stored peanuts absorb moisture in a humid
atmosphere and reach 9% or more moisture content, the aspergillus mold can grow.
We work with our suppliers to make sure that their peanuts are processed and handled
properly, and are stored at a cool temperature (35-40 degrees F) in dry conditions
(under 65% RH).
The FDA has set a maximum contaminant level for aflatoxin of 20 parts per billion
in peanut products. We regularly test and monitor our peanut supply through
State-certified independent laboratories. We certify that aflatoxin levels in
Signs and Wonders® Peanut Milk are under a detection limit of 1 part per billion.
For more information, visit the following U.S. Dept. of Agriculture website:
www.usda.gov |
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