Episode #37: Peanuts

In this episode, Hannah & Victoria explore all aspects of the most highly influenced legume…the peanut.

Are peanuts as bad as people say?

They discuss:

* An update on fluoride and big dental companies

* The 4 varities of peanuts commercially grown in the United States and some other cool peanut facts (artifact photos here!)

* The study Victoria discussed on partial colostrum feeding and increased risk of allergies in kids

* How changing when allergenic foods are introduced decreases risk of allergies, the study this article was written about, and earlier reports that hadn’t yet documented the positive change reported in the latest research

* The skin barrier hypothesis Hannah discussed

* How the use of ANY lotion might increase the risk of allergies (this one was VERY surprising to us)

* Peanut reintroduction might be possible for kids who can tolerate 1/2 a peanut (TO BE CLEAR: We are NOT recommending you try this at home! Seek medical assitance if you’re interested in reintroducing peanuts to someone who is allergic.)

* The microbiome is different in babies who go on to develop allergies at a later age

* Example of peanut hate we found online (here, too)

* But…100% of lectins are destroyed when peanuts are roasted

* But oxalates, not so much (this paper about antinutrients is really worth reading if you’re curious about the “plants are poisonous” rhetoric)

* Some general info on alfatoxin and cancer risk, a mycotoxin produced by Aspergillus flavus, a ubiquitous fungus that can infect and grow in peanuts under both pre- and post-harvest conditions

* Less than 20 part per billion of aflatoxin is allowed in peanuts according to FDA guidelines

* But aflaxtoxin is also found in Brazil nuts, pistachios, cocoa, and some small grains such as rice. Aflatoxin M1 is also found in milk of cows that eat aflatoxin B1 contaminated crops.

* It turns out, peanuts are super nutritious

* They’re the 2nd highest food in resveratrol!

* Soybeans contain more protein, but peanut protein may be more bioavailable (but they’re not a great DIRECT source of protein, to be clear. They’re much higher in fat than protein.)

* Peanuts save millions of children’s lives each year via ready-to-use therapeutic foods like PlumpyNut (invented in 1996 by a French pediatrician), and MANA Nutrition (made in Georgia, US)

* This Lancet article estimates there will be a staggering amount of deaths, especially children, caused by USAID cuts

* PB&J will add 33 min to your life (sorta)

Finally, please enjoy the Peanut Butter Jelly Time song.