Peanuts often provide us with an extra portion of energy every day – but sweet legumes are also real calorie bombs. They not only contain a lot of vegetable protein, but also a lot of fat. “The high fat content makes it a high-energy snack with just under 600 kilocalories per 100 grams,” says nutrition expert Jasmin Scholz from the Consumer Advice Center Bremen.
For health reasons, you should therefore buy them in their natural state. “We recommend unsalted, unroasted peanuts,” says Scholz. “This saves extra salt and fat during production.” Pulses can also be eaten occasionally for cooking or as a creamy porridge. “A handful of peanuts is a healthy amount.” That’s about 30 grams per day.
Regional Peanut Alternatives
Peanuts are not grown locally in Germany, but are imported from other countries such as Argentina, China, India or the United States. “If you want to use regional nuts, you can use local hazelnuts and walnuts,” advises Scholz.
From a climate protection perspective, peanuts still perform better than almonds or cashews, according to the consumer advice centre. The reason: your crop requires less water. While one kilogram of almonds requires between 10,000 and 15,000 liters of water before harvesting, one kilogram of peanuts requires around 2,800 liters. (dpa)
