Can You Eat Peanut Shells?

Did you know that Africans were the first people to introduce peanuts in North America in the 1700s? Peanuts were, however, initially discovered in Brazil, South America by European explorers. Explorers and traders then facilitated the spread of peanut farming across the globe.

While you enjoy peanuts, can you eat peanut shells? Yes, you can eat peanut shells, although consumption is not common among many people. The few people who enjoy peanut shells love the crunch and salt in peanut shells and the flavor that arises when the crunch combines with the peanut seed.

Peanut shell consumption is also less time-consuming. 

Cracking open peanut shells so one can only consume the peanut seeds takes up a lot of time and is tedious, not to mention the mess left behind. One has to take up more time in cleaning up. Therefore, to save up on time, some people prefer to eat whole peanuts.

How Can You Eat Peanut Shells?

Just like peanuts, peanut shells can be consumed raw. You can also boil them, or you can opt to roast them, of course, with the peanut seed inside.

How you eat your peanut shell depends on your taste and preference. Do you like your peanuts raw? Or would you rather eat boiled or roasted peanuts? If you are not sure how you like your peanut shells, you could try out the different options before settling for one method.

Remember to ensure your peanuts are well dried, and you remove any unappealing seed before roasting or boiling. 

What are the Health Benefits of Peanut Shells?

Peanut shells are natural antioxidants. They are used in drugs that help relieve coughs, reduce mucus and reduce high blood pressure. Regular eating of peanuts with shells will also help your body function better, feel fuller for long, reducing chances of being overweight. 

Antioxidants are substances that prevent cell damage in the body. Peanut shells contain polyphenol, flavonoid, and amino acids, thus showing antioxidant potential.

The antioxidants in peanut shells make peanut shells a safe option for therapeutic and pharmaceutical use. Today, medicinal products with peanut shells as an ingredient can be used to relieve coughs, reduce blood pressure and eliminate mucus from the lungs.

Moreover, amino acids present in peanut shells are vital in skin and hair conditioning products. The skincare products made with peanut shells are used to treat aging, skin disorders, and diseases.

Are Peanut Shells Bad For You?

While we’ve seen peanut shells are fantastic, some situations can make them bad for you. 

So, peanuts shells can be good or bad for you depending on how they were grown. This is because peanut shells may contain pesticides and are not easy to digest. Some farmers spray harsh chemicals on the peanut, and they may have residual effects. However, if organically grown, peanut shells are great and part of a healthy meal. 

Peanuts shells are rough, and chewing them does not necessarily break them down. The peanut shells, therefore, accumulate in the intestines. The peanut shells block the intestines leading to reduced digestion or no other foods’ digestion.

The growth of peanuts is not easy. Often, the peanuts are invaded by fungal diseases, and farmers spray the peanut plants with pesticides to get rid of fungal infections. There may be residual pesticide in the peanut shell.

Therefore when consumed, you may get severe allergic reactions from the peanut shell. What’s more, some of these pesticides, when eaten, could lead to contracting deadly diseases such as cancer. Peanut farmers often expect that consumers will get rid of the peanut shells and consume the peanut seeds.

But you can also find organically grown peanuts, which makes the shell safe for consumption. 

What are Other Benefits of Peanut Shells?

Besides human consumption, peanut shells can be used in mulching and in making charcoal briquettes.

How do you dispose of peanut shells if you do not eat them? Do you know that you could use the peanut shells as mulch for your plants?

Peanut shells are rich in nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. Therefore, a peanut shell mulch conserves the water in plants, prevents erosion, and provides essential nutrients for your crops.

Moreover, due to advancements in technology, peanut shells can be used to make charcoal. The peanut shells are passed through the peanut shell briquette press to produce charcoal fuel used for heating. The alternative use of peanut shells is good news to farmers who view peanut shells as a waste product.

Peanut is a legume grown for its edible seeds. It contains proteins, vitamins, minerals, fats, and fiber. Health experts recommend the consumption of peanuts for the following reasons:  Todo sobre plantas

• Peanuts contain amino acids L-arginine, which boosts sexual function in men. Therefore, men with low libido should consume peanuts due to the L-arginine that relaxes blood vessels and corrects erectile dysfunction.
• Peanuts help to reduce the risk of contracting heart diseases due to the healthy fats present in the peanuts.
• Peanuts contain fiber that helps in improving digestion.
• Peanuts help to lose weight. Peanuts contain fiber, healthy fats, and proteins, which can help you feel full, preventing overeating.
• Peanuts contain biotin, which is essential during pregnancy.
• Peanuts also contain phosphorous, which is crucial in the growth and maintenance of body tissues.

Final Thoughts

• Peanut shells are edible, although not many people prefer to consume peanut shells.
• Peanut shells can be eaten raw, boiled, or roasted, depending on your preference
• Peanut shells are natural antioxidants and are common in pharmaceutical and skin care products.
• It is not advisable to eat peanut shells as they are easily digestible; moreover, they contain pesticides that could cause severe allergies and cancer.
• There are commercial uses of peanut shells, including the making of charcoal. Farmers can also use peanut shells in their gardens as mulch.