Luscious Peanut Bars- healthy and tasty

Peanuts- Introduction

Peanuts or groundnuts is a species in the legume "bean" family (Fabaceae) native to Mexico, South America and Central America. Peanuts are known by many local names, including earthnuts, ground nuts, goober peas, monkey nuts, pygmy nuts and pig nuts. The term "Monkey nut" is often used to mean the entire pod.Peanuts are usually lip smacking and especially roasted peanuts and boiled ones, they have high nutritional value and give copious proteins when consumed. Peanuts are not preferred by some due to a little bitter taste but however when mixed with salt it tends to stimulate their mouths too!!!
Varieties
Popular confections include salted peanuts, peanut butter (sandwiches, candy bars, and cups), peanut brittle, and shelled nuts (plain/roasted). Salted peanuts are usually roasted in oil and packed in retail size, plastic bags or hermetically sealed cans. Dry roasted, salted peanuts are also marketed in significant quantities. Peanuts are often a major ingredient in mixed nuts because of their inexpensiveness compared to Brazil nuts, cashews, walnuts, and so on. The primary use of peanut butter is in the home, but large quantities are also used in the commercial manufacture of sandwiches, candy, and bakery products. Boiled peanuts are a preparation of raw, unshelled green peanuts boiled in brine and typically eaten as a snack in the southern United States where most peanuts are grown. More recently, fried peanut recipes have emerged - allowing both shell and nut to be eaten. Peanuts are also used in cosmetics, plastics, dyes and paints.

Bars
It is a common complaint that kids and children dislike the taste of peanuts, this is especially due to the bitter taste it gives while comsuming it directly. To help fight this problem, peanuts are shaped into peanut BARS mixed with other sweet ingredients which attracts the kids. Since peanuts are a natural source of niacin- high protein which is mandatory requirement of the body for proper blood flow i.e for heart. Due to the manufacture of peanut in the form of bars it is attractive in appeal as well as taste and nutritional value; it is a 3 in 1 bar actually. If children have an aversion towards a particular nut, something different must be done to make it eat, because after all they are kids i.e growing children and hence require all the essential nutrients and one such is protein. Peanut is one such having enormous amounts of protein in it, consuming 100 gm a day keeps a man stay fit. Just like candy bars, peanut bars have got captured the eye of the buyers especially mothers who prefer to give it to their kids and without much effort. Now most of the children have started enjoying the nutritional flavor of peanut bars and not only the kids but unanimously people tend to prefer peanut bar as a part of their daily snack.

Health Benefits
Peanuts are nutrient rich, providing over 30 essential nutrients and phytonutrients. While peanuts are considered high in fat, they primarily contain “good” fats also known as unsaturated fats. One serving of peanuts contains 11.5 g unsaturated fat and 2 g of saturated fat. In fact, peanuts have been linked well enough to their heart healthy benefits.
Peanuts are a good source of niacin and thus contribute to brain health and blood flow. Recent research on peanuts and nuts in general has found antioxidants and other chemicals that may provide health benefits. New research shows peanuts rival the antioxidant content of many fruits. Peanuts are a significant source of resveratrol, a chemical studied for potential anti-aging effects and also associated with reduced cardiovascular disease and reduced cancer risk.
Today various types of peanut bars are readily available like chocolate peanut bars i.e most liked by kids, chocolate peanut butter bars, peanut butter bars and even salted peanut bars. A peanut bar is also a little less expensive and recipes are available for home makers to prepare at home itself and its easy too!! Hence enjoy the luscious peanut bars daily and get benefited umpteen number of times.