Quality is foremost in the minds of Georgia’s 5,000 peanut farmers beginning with the selection of peanut seed to production practices throughout the season and harvest time. No matter the scenario Georgia’s peanut farmers are focused on producing a high quality, healthy and nutritious snack for consumers.
Known as the Official State Crop of Georgia, peanuts rank as the top producing edible row crop grown in the state. Georgia’s farmers produced an estimated 1.86 billion pounds of peanuts in 2003.
Not only are peanuts an important commodity to the state which boasts producing 45% of the total peanuts in the U.S., peanuts are also big on nutrition.
Peanuts are a good source of protein, folic acid, vitamin E, niacin, phosphorous, and magnesium. Peanuts also provide a smaller amount of 10 other essential vitamins and minerals.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) affirmed a health claim that peanuts and other nuts may reduce the risk of heart disease when consumed daily in small amounts. This action is based on a large body of epidemiological and clinical studies showing a 25-50% reduction in the risk of heart disease when 1 to 2 ounces of peanuts or nuts are consumed 5 or more times a week.
Peanuts and peanut butter are tasty, convenient sources of natural folic acid. One ounce of roasted peanuts provides 10% (41 mcg) of the daily value of folic acid. A peanut butter and jelly sandwich provides 18% (73 mcg).
Recent research studies have specifically included peanuts and peanut butter as part of healthy diets that may help prevent adult-onset diabetes and lower blood pressure. Other studies have suggested that the good fats in peanuts and peanut butter may help prevent heart disease by lowering LDL-cholesterol levels without lowering the good HDL-cholesterol levels.
Visit the Georgia Peanut
Commission on the World Wide Web to continue learning.
www.gapeanuts.com
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