ESL 52A/B Advanced Reading and Writing
29 October 2014
Peanuts: A Reasonable Choice It is said that elephants have a great memory, and they never forget to eat their peanuts. From food to oils, plastics and nitroglycerin, peanuts are ubiquitous and versatile, and they can be found in meals all around the world. They are well known for their flavor and their nutritional value. Because of their reasonable prices and their high-protein content, peanuts can be a used as a dietary supplement for low-income families.
In a study about the importance of nuts in the diet, researchers conclude that peanuts supply almost the same amount of nutrients to the diet as the other sources of protein (Lino et. al 82). In addition, peanuts are cheaper and longer lasting compared to other protein sources like meat and poultry. These features make the peanuts an efficient food in terms of “energy cost”, and a great economical option for families with limited income that are looking for a high-protein alternative to fast and processed foods, which have considerable health risks. Furthermore, one of the most important recent uses of peanuts, which demonstrates their the high nutritional value, is the treatment of malnutrition in developing countries. The World Health Organization, UNICEF, Doctors Without Borders, and other non-governmental organizations have been using a fortified peanut-based food paste called Plumpy’nut or RUTF (Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food) in patients who have severe acute malnutrition with excellent results. According to the WHO, severe acute malnutrition affects almost 20 million children worldwide, and it is the most common cause of death in children under five years of age. The WHO estimates that “about 1 million children die every year from severe acute malnutrition” (2). Additionally, studies show that without proper treatment, severe acute malnutrition has a mortality rate of around 20% (2). In contrast, the studies report that the treatment with peanut-based RUTF reduces the mortality rates to 5%. This estimation suggests that if the treatment is scaled up worldwide, peanut-based food could save around 750.000 children from the death every year (3). Ultimately, if peanuts can be used to alleviate malnutrition in the world’s poorest populations, then certainly increased peanut consumption will benefit low-income groups as well. On the other hand, there are people who claim that peanuts are unhealthy because of their high content of calories and saturated fats. However, the Dr. Walter C. Willett, a nutrition expert from Harvard School of Public Health, explains that it’s the entire nutritional content, not the presence of just one of two nutrients, that defines whether or not a food is healthy. In the case of peanuts, the percentage of saturated fats is less than 20% of the total content of fat, compared with more than 80% for unsaturated fats, which are well known for their health benefits. Moreover, several studies indicate that a diet that regularly includes peanuts can reduce the risk of heart disease or type 2 diabetes, as well as decrease serum cholesterol (1).
Perhaps the dietary preference of the elephants for the peanuts is a myth. However, for those who are looking for economic and balanced nutrition, including peanuts in their diet can be a great choice because thanks to peanuts, inexpensiveness and healthiness are not mutually exclusive.

Work Cited
Community-based Management of Severe Acute Malnutrition: A Joint Statement by the World Health Organization, the World Food Programme, the United Nations System Standing Committee on Nutrition and the United Nations Children's Fund. Geneva: UNICEF, 2007. May 2007. Web. 29 Oct. 2014.
Lino, Mark, et al. "The Role Of Nuts In A Healthy Diet." Family Economics & Nutrition Review 14.2 (2002): 80.Academic Search Complete. Web. 6 Oct. 2014.
Willett, Walter C., M.D. Why Is Peanut Butter "Healthy" If It Has Saturated Fat?Harvard Health Publication, July 2009. Web. 29 Oct. 2014.