Introduction
Peanuts are high in protein and generally suitable for all healthy individuals but they still are common known allergens. This article will explore how to prevent agricultural contamination of peanuts, and what is the medical management of peanut allergies.
Are Peanuts True Nuts and Are They Good for Health?
Peanut (botanical name of Arachis hypogaea L. or A. nambyquarae Hoehne or Lathyrus esquirolii H. Lév.) is mainly one of the flowering leguminous crops that belong to the Fabaceae (Leguminosae) family. These are not true nuts, and commonly peanut allergies are linked to tree nut or other nut allergies, which is a misconception.
Rather, these are more closely related to the legumes, growing underground in pods, and do not grow on trees like other nuts such as almonds, walnuts, cashews, etc. in fact peanuts are closer to the peas and soybean food groups than to the legumes family.
Peanut also has several names varying from region to region such as groundnut, and goober in the United States, pindar nuts in some regions of the United States, and colloquially even called monkey nuts in the United Kingdom. These crops are usually grown in both tropical and subtropical regions or climates.
The nutritional importance of peanuts stems from them being exceptionally rich protein sources, just like most other legumes and because of their crunching and earthy taste, they are used in global kitchens to a great deal.
Almost a whopping 25 percent protein can be yielded from a handful of peanut consumption, though they are also moderate to high in terms of calorie content. These are not only rich in several nutrients such as vitamin E, niacin, thiamine, and folate, but they are also heart-healthy mono and polyunsaturated fats yielding nuts that can contribute to overall systemic and cellular immunity, according to nutrition research.
Peanut oil further is one of the most commonly used edible oil sources in most culinary recipes, in pan-global kitchens. Peanut oil is used for instance commonly in most of the veggie-based main courses, salads, appetizers, etc. The nutritional value of peanut paste or from a handful of peanuts is estimated at an energy-providing 21 percent of carbohydrates, which means they can be important body fuel dietary sources and can be easily incorporated into cardioprotective or any healthy or nutrient-dense balanced diet forms.
Why Are Peanut Allergies So Common Due to Agricultural Contaminants?
Coming to the allergies that are most common with peanuts, are possible because of food contamination within their crop harvest or with the source itself. According to current nutrition and wellness research, definitely yes. Many of the documented case reports of allergies to peanuts are owing to the physical contaminants that affect the peanut crops, rather than these nuts themselves being any food allergens themselves.
Because these are not true nuts or not even classified as tree nuts, it is a common misconception held against peanuts that they are related to other nut allergies medically. However, nutritional experts have busted these myths because there needs to be a resolution or monitoring of the peanut quality, instead that can counteract such food sensitivity reactions or reduce global safety concerns about these nuts.
A majority of peanuts are from the geographic location of South America- mainly from Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, and Peru.
While China produces nearly half of the global production of peanuts estimated at a whopping 47 million tons every year or annually, India also contributes to around 21 percent of the total global production of peanuts, Nigeria around 30 percent of the African peanut production, etc.
Despite the massive worldwide production, these crops are most prone to different contaminants. Well, ranging from attacks by different insects, nematodes, birds, pests, weeds, rodents, etc. in the post-harvest phase to common fungal infections by Aspergillus species- there are several safety issues associated with these grain crops.
Why Is There a Need for Food Safety Norms?
Food safety protocols currently adopted by manufacturers across the world range from eliminating primary physical debris, pesticide residues, metallic, industrial contaminants, and secondary by-products like nitrites, furans, microbial and insect excreta, larvae, etc. Also, a third-party tested product or locally certified product whether it is peanuts, peanut paste, or nut butter is recommended ideally for consumers. Take care that many of these commercial products may have added sugar and high sodium that can alter the nutritional content. Hence read the ingredient labels before you purchase the products, while also checking for possible allergens.
What Is the Management of Peanut Allergies?
Though there is no specific cure as such for peanut allergies and your registered physician, nutritionist or allergist would be counteracting the allergy through medication that would be prescribed for you, there is still scope for preventing peanut sensitivity on a global scale. Well,
there are many new-age methods according to medical researchers that have been advised in agricultural systems to counteract these food sensitivity reactions. Agricultural modifications are associated with a reduction in the allergenicity of peanut proteins, commonly by the use of the enzyme polyphenol oxidase. By genetic modification and by reducing the peanut protein content, possible allergenic levels can be altered.
Ranging from nausea, vomiting, headaches, diarrhea, bronchial spasms, anaphylaxis, skin hives, etc, or even anaphylactic shock in severe allergies after consumption of contaminated peanuts, timely medical management is essential to save lives.
Now from a medical management perspective, your registered physician or nutritionist can recommend either a subcutaneous injection with CPE (crude peanut extract) in treating mild to moderate peanut allergies or they can commonly recommend Epinephrine treatment either through the routes of inhalation or by intramuscular or auto-injections for moderate or severe peanut allergies. If you or your loved ones are facing any anaphylactic or allergic symptoms immediately or gradually after peanut consumption, then immediately report the health condition for a complete evaluation to a registered healthcare professional or an allergist without delay.
Conclusion
Though third-party tested supplements, nutritional products, roasted nuts, and commercial peanut manufacturers all eliminate these concerns by quality check and processing, several cases of peanut allergies still exist in the medical literature. Ranging from the occurrence of food sensitivity reactions after contaminated peanut consumption by consumers to the existence of acute and chronic diseases, such as aflatoxicosis, hepatomas, etc- there need to be several food safety measures that have to be implemented before peanut exports and imports into local and international markets.
