Enjoy Peanuts and Skins

When you're a kid, a trip to Grandpa and Grandma's house usually means some foods you might not always receive at home -- namely candy and nuts.

It was no different for me.  While my grandparents had an array of tree nuts from which to choose, they also had Spanish Peanuts.  I usually passed on the peanuts.  Why?  Because of the skins.  They were dry, flaky and in the way of what I really wanted.

It turns out, the skins on peanuts carry many healthful qualities and shouldn't be so readily discarded.

According to the Peanut Institute, the antioxidant capacity of peanuts exceeds that of red wine or green tea.  With skins intact, peanuts double their antioxidant capacity, exceeding the antioxidant capacity of a widely recognized antioxidant leader -- blueberries.

Some peanut butters are now produced with skins.  If you make your own peanut butter at home (as we do), simply choose peanuts with skins before blending them.

When you enjoy Spanish Peanuts and roasted, in-shell peanuts, know you are doing more for your health.