Beat the Credit Crunch This Christmas With High Quality American Peanuts!

Consumers need not compromise on taste and quality in a bid to save pennies this Christmas. High quality American peanuts offer a cheaper - but equally healthy and great tasting - alternative to other nuts.

01/12/08 As the economic downturn bites and food costs continue to rise, it's reassuring to know that there is no need to compromise the festive spirit on quality, taste, convenience or health. While cautious consumers purposefully seek out good value holiday nibbles, peanuts - recently overshadowed by more exotic, expensive alternatives - are set to make a comeback as a natural, tasty, energy powerhouse snack.

Health education consultant for the American Peanut Council Dr Andrew Craig said, "Research tells us that all nuts are extremely beneficial for health. The more exotic nuts may be great - but they are expensive, whereas peanuts offer all the health benefits at an affordable everyday price."

Scientific consensus on the role of nuts and health, recently published in The Journal of Nutrition, stresses that eating a portion of nuts or peanuts daily is a more effective step to improve dietary health and reduce risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and gallbladder disease, without leading to weight gain. Previous studies have shown that inclusion of nuts and peanuts in moderate fat weight loss diets improves compliance and leads to greater weight loss compared to traditional low fat diets. Dr Janet King, Professor Emeritus of Nutrition at University of California, USA and co-chair of the International Nuts Symposium confirmed in the Journal of Nutrition symposium proceedings that nuts are an excellent source of protective phytochemicals (such as antioxidants) and that replacing snacks high in refined carbohydrates with nuts could have a positive impact on nutrient density and risk of chronic disease.

Peanuts are a legume, nutritionally grouped with tree nuts, so they provide many of the nutritional benefits of both nuts and legumes. Peanuts are an excellent source of fibre and heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, high in protein and cholesterol-free. They are also good sources of potassium, Vitamin E and niacin, plus three key nutrients, zinc, magnesium and folate that are inadequate in the diets of a significant number of British adults and children, according to Government dietary survey results.

With the doom and gloom of the credit crunch and economic forecasts, consumers need not compromise on taste and quality in a bid to save pennies this Christmas. High quality American peanuts offer a cheaper - but equally healthy and great tasting - alternative to other nuts. The range of great tasting American Peanuts available here in the UK is increasing and now includes luxury spicy flavoured peanuts, inshells and Belgian chocolate coated products, as well as unsalted varieties such as Planters Berry Nutty nut and fruit mix with cranberries & Sun Valley Nutz.