How Can This Ayurvedic Food Make You Feel Great?

AYURVEDIC ANALYSIS

If you've ever tasted peanut butter and chocolate together, you know why the "amazing aroma of peanuts is addictive," says one student. John, our founder, had a client who loved peanuts so much she consumed a jar of peanut butter every evening.



Americans consume more than $2billion worth of peanuts per year. Peanuts, and in particular peanut butter, have had a resurgence in popularity thanks to their rich protein, fats and fiber content - which are altogether nourishing, satisfying and decadent. One of our students noted peanut's building quality, noting that after eating peanuts, the "strength of my muscles made me feel confident."

No longer just a feature of childrens' snack plates, we're now seeing peanut blends crop up in oatmeal, smoothies, desserts and salad dressings. Thai peanut sauce blends peanuts with coconut and fish sauce.

Peanuts certainly taste delicious and satisfy the stomach but are they good for us? They have been banned from most school lunches because so many children experience an allergic reaction to peanuts. Can Ayurveda shed any light on why this is such a common allergen? This is something we will explore in this article.

Also known as groundnut, monkey nut, earthnut, goober peas or pignut, in truth, they are actually a legume and a relative of beans, soy and, the Ayurvedic staple, lentils. The reason we know them as nuts is all down to marketing. Humans have a long history of eating nuts. Nuts were the primary source of fats and proteins prior to the agricultural revolution. So marketing beans as nuts is a profitable renaming.



However, even as a legume peanuts are unusual because they grow underground in pods, rather than above ground. After being harvested in Autumn, they are left to dry in their field for a few days before being separated from their vines. Once separated, they are dried in 'drying wagons' by having warm air blasted through.

Due to their popularity, peanuts have strong cultural and nostalgic significance. Jimmy Carter, US President from 1977-1981, was famous for his love of peanuts. So much so that he actually owned a peanut farm! Charlie Brown is the star of the popular animated series 'Peanuts', that launched in the 1950's and remained in print until 2000.

Many of us will have personal associations with peanuts as features of our childhood. One student remembered, "eating them with my grandpa before he died when I was 6; that's one of my earliest memories."

The botanical name for peanuts is arachis hypogaea and they originated in South America. They were domesticated as a hybrid between two wild species over 7,600 years ago. Today, they are grown globally, in tropical and subtropical locations like the southern USA.

Ayurveda refers to peanuts as kalaya. Written in the 14th century about the Ayurvedic approach to eating for optimal health, the Ayurveda Mahodhadhi lists peanuts alongside sesame, grams, peas and barley. Students from our Mastering Ayurvedic Digestion and Nutrition programme found that peanuts are a nourishing, difficult to digest legume that irritates the liver and increases anxiety.

Footnote: The information for this article was in part gathered from a 2020 study and survey of 35 students of Ayurveda who experimented with peanuts. During the study, students ate peanuts for 3 days and journaled the pharmacological effects. This study was sponsored by the Joyful Belly School of Ayurveda, and specifically the Mastering Ayurvedic Digestion & Nutrition certification course.

Ayurveda Biocharacteristics

Ayurveda sees peanuts as being a difficult, drying and heavy food which increases heat in the body. They are nutritious and can act as a high fiber laxative. However, being both rajasic and tamasic, peanuts can increase nervous energy or make a person feel sleepy, depending on their constitution and digestive fire (agni).

Oily, Sticky

Peanut butter is smooth and creamy which indicates the presence of oil. While for some this oily quality (snigdha) is satisfying, other students found it a bit sickening, "My mouth feels rather oily, like a greasy pot. I can feel the grease in my throat and it is nauseating."

Peanuts are high in fat and calories, about 570 calories per 100g, but several studies have shown that peanuts do not cause weight gain. More research is needed on this to pinpoint exactly why this is but it could be because peanuts are so heavy and slow to digest. Our students noticed this quality helps them feel satisfied for longer and, so, ate less food.

Peanuts contain high amounts of protein, 26g per 100g, which may increase the amount of calories burned per day. This is due, in part, to proteins' high thermic effect which boosts metabolism. Studies have shown that this can range from 80-100 calories per day, and sometimes more.

Peanuts also deliver significant amounts of dietary fiber, with 100g giving up to ? of a male's recommended intake, and 1/3 of a females. Fiber is shown to promote weight loss by reducing the appetite because it makes us feel fuller for longer. At Joyful Belly we often recommend beans like lentils and chickpeas for weight loss for this very reason.

Some other interesting benefits of peanuts is that they may reduce heart disease. This is because they reduce a main risk factor, high blood pressure. Their high levels of essential nutrients such as manganese, niacin and copper contribute to this action. Animal studies have also shown that unsaturated fats, like those in peanuts, may reduce the development of gallstones.

Dense, Dull, Heavy

While we love peanuts for their satisfying nature, they can be difficult to digest due to their dense (sandra), dull (manda) and heavy (guru) qualities.

This means they can be churning in our stomach for longer as our body tries to process them. Several of our students noticed this, remarking that peanuts were 'like bricks were placed in my upper abdomen.' One noted, "I was burping after I ate them." and another, "I got heartburn which was quite unpleasant." Still another noted that the heaviness caused 'pressure in my chest, like an elephant sitting on it'.

The weightiness of peanuts went on to depress the energy and dull their senses of 30% of our students, who stated that 'it seems like all the energy in my body had to go to the darn task of digesting the peanuts' and 'my senses are less vivid, my thinking less sharp and my body more sluggish'. After eating peanuts, ""I had the urge to take a nap."

Dry

Peanuts are not a diuretic and do not increase urination significantly. However, they do have a dry (ruksha) quality to their dense nature. Density measures the solidity, concentration or compactness of something. Foods with this quality require more saliva and gastric juices to break them down.

Our students experienced this first-hand. One described feeling like the peanuts were, "sucking the water out of my body" and another reporting, "my lips felt so dry." This drying effect can be noticed even before they are swallowed, "my mouth got very dry chewing and I felt like I had to drink some water to aid chewing the peanuts."

If peanuts are taken with the skin they can also have an astringent (kasaya) quality due to the sharp tannins present. So, it comes as no surprise that students reported seeing more cracks on their tongue after experimenting on peanuts. These cracks are an indication of dryness, as well as degeneration of tissues.

Warming

Peanuts are considered warming (usna) in nature due to their acidity. Difficult-to-process foods can increase heat because foods sitting in the GI begins to ferment which causes irritation and heat.

Overall 49% of students noticed that their temperature increased during this experiment. This can be linked with the 23% who said that peanuts made them sweat more. Some experienced this warmth in a mild way, reporting, "the peanuts felt warm when I held them in my mouth' and 'I felt heat in my ears." Some, however, felt this heating effect much more strongly, with one student noting that their stomach was "tender to touch ... I feltl heat right at the base of my sternum' and another saying that peanuts, 'dramatically increased my inflammation .. my stomach had a burning sensation."

The warming, oily qualities of peanuts increase both Pitta and Kapha. This was seen by one student who's T-zone became oilier as the heat moved upwards in their body, "they increased my facial oils." Another student noticed this effect more strongly, with acne appearing on their body, "I noticed a few minor pimples on my chest and back." Overall, 34% of the participating students noticed their tongue was redder during this experiment, which is another sign of heat in the body.

Peanuts contain phytic acids which can decrease the bioavailability of other nutrients. This happens because of the acid's binding properties. It is also worth noting that, because peanuts are grown underground, a mold called aspergillus is often present in them. This mold contains aflatoxins which can be irritating to the body if taken in excess.

Why Are Peanuts a Common Food Allergen?

About 3million Americans experience an allergic reaction to peanuts. This can vary from a mild rash to life-threatening anaphylactic shock. One of our students noticed a mild reaction to their peanuts, "[the] tip of my tongue and the middle part of both my top and bottom lips turned red and slightly plumped up immediately after eating." If you notice any tingling or swelling of the lips, tongue or throat it is best to avoid peanuts.

These reactions occur because the immune system sees the proteins in peanuts as a threat. It will attack this perceived hazard, giving rise to symptoms. The reason for so many people experiencing allergic reactions to peanuts is still being debated. However, it is thought that it may be because peanuts contain several proteins that are not found in most other foods. Interestingly, raw peanuts have been seen to provoke less of an allergic response in sensitive individuals than roasted peanuts.

As mentioned, peanuts contain aflatoxin. This substance can be very challenging on the liver. In fact, in countries where aflatoxin-rich foods form a staple of the diet, liver cancer rates are higher than the norm. This can be seen in some African countries. Other foods that contain aflatoxin include tree nuts, maize, rice, figs and other dried foods, spices, crude vegetable oils and cocoa beans.

Joyful Belly founder John Immel has personal experience with this, "My liver is sensitive because of thalassemia minor and liver poisoning that occurred when a famous mushroom-hunter fed me a poisonous mushroom. Since then, I get black patches on my skin when I eat peanut butter. Because of this, I avoid peanuts - even though I love them!."

From an Ayurvedic perspective the difficult nature of peanuts means they tend to sit in the digestive system for a long time. They are already heating and when they're stuck in the GI and begin to ferment, that heat increases. This Pitta provocation can irritate the liver and cause a greater Pitta reaction in the body as a whole, as well as irritate the immune system and trigger a reaction.

Students noticed reactions showing up in their bodies in other ways too. Peanut's heavy quality can lead to toxins that manifests as a thicker coating on the tongue, which 63% of our students noticed. In this case, the saliva often appeared more foamy which points to a thickening of the fluids in the body.

Peanut's being difficult to digest can also lead to toxins (ama). As they are churned in the stomach, they begin to ferment. This creates gas and bloating due to the presence of bacterial endotoxins in the digestive tract. In our experiment, 54% of students noticed an increase in gas and bloating. For these students, foul smelling stools and sweat indicated the toxins from fermentation were substantial and absorbed into the bloodstream. Almost half of the student participants in this study reported stronger smelling stools.

Even if we don't experience a reaction right away, it is thought that frequency of consumption can play a role in immune reactions. This may be because the irritating qualities and toxins increase over time, eventually causing a reaction.

Can we fix it? It certainly can be a challenge but we do offer some strategies and tips in our Mastering Ayurvedic Digestion & Nutrition course, which has an entire moduce on allergies!

Peanuts Increase Irritability, Anxiety & Tension

If peanuts are so nourishing, why did 34% of our students experience more anxiety and 26% more muscle tension? This may be down to the toxins (ama) created in the body after eating peanuts. The difficult, heating qualities of the peanuts can overwhelm the liver. This can leave it aggravated and unable to perform its job of neutralized toxins from the blood. These toxins then build up in the bloodstream. This blood circulates through the system, causing anxiety and tension because of the irritating toxins present in it.

One student remarked, "my respiration and heart rate were a little bit elevated ... nervous energy ... everything seemed to be moving a bit faster."

Generally you should try to avoid over-taxing your liver or creating toxins (ama) in your system. These toxins can have knock-on effects all over our bodies. The tongue can often be a useful assessment tool to spot toxins and irritation, as it acts as a 'map' of the body.

In the case of peanuts, 31% of our students experienced more cracks on their tongue. This Is a sign of dryness - John notes that, as a Vata person, 'I try to avoid foods that increase cracks'.

Tension can also be seen clearly in the tongue, which might tremble more than usual. This excess movement is due to toxins (ama) aggravating the nervous system. This was something experienced by 20% of our students during their experiment.

This is certainly an interesting finding considering how so many of us think of peanuts, and peanut butter specifically, as being something of a comfort food!

Summary Effects on Elimination

Peanuts had a varied impact on students' stools. The qualities of their elimination depended on whether the dry quality or the hot quality had a stronger effect on their system.

• Where dryness prevailed, they noticed hard stools, "I do not digest peanuts well, it bothers my stomach and it makes it difficult to eliminate causing constipation and cramping." 54% of our students noticed an increase in gas and bloating. This is due to their difficult, dense nature.
• However, where the peanut's heat prevailed, students noticed much softer stools, "After eating peanuts my stool got so much looser! It was not quite explosive, but it felt closer to that than formed."
• And, in some cases, students noticed a little of both in their bodies, "Peanuts at first made me feel back up and bloated, but after an hour I had gurgling in my stomach, which led to diarrhea that was very dark brown and completely liquid."

Overall, our students noticed that their urine was slightly darker and more foamy. This could be because of the protein content of the peanuts, "My urine changed more dramatically with peanuts than any other food we've experimented with. It was notably cloudier, more frequent, more clear, more bubbly, and smellier, indicating that my kidneys were filtering out toxins and undigested proteins from my blood."

Finally, students reported that they sweated more frequently and it had a stronger smell, with one student saying, "I started to sweat lightly about an hour after eating peanuts and my armpits smelled rancid!" and another noting, "My sweat was super strong and overpowering."

Indications

So who can enjoy peanuts? Those with a strong digestive fire (agni), low Pitta and low Kapha can use peanuts as a satisfying way to nourish their body. They can also be useful to stay full longer.

However, our students' experiences show that peanuts have the potential to aggravate all three doshas:

• The thicker, larger coating on the tongue points to Kapha aggravation.
• The heat, tension and irritability indicate Pitta, and particularly liver, aggravation.
• The gas and bloating reported by students tells us that Vata is aggravated.
• It is also considered to be a substance that obstructs all the channels (srotas) in the body which Ayurveda calls abhishyandi.

So while peanuts can be enjoyed safely by some, moderation is key to prevent accumulation of the doshas in the body. Peanuts are rich in fat, protein, Vitamin E, folate, and other essential healthy nutrients that may provide medicinal benefits to the body. Peanuts have been studied to help treat many health problems such as weight loss, PCOS, skin problems, hair problems like hair loss, memory loss, diabetes, cancers, erectile dysfunction and much more.

Contraindications

Those who are generally sensitive and reactive should avoid peanuts because this can be an indication that the liver is already irritated and care should be taken not to further aggravate it.

Large quantities of peanut butter should not be taken daily. If you are a peanut addict, try taking it every second or third day to avoid putting burden on the liver.

If you experience gas or have a weak digestion, peanuts should be avoided. As mentioned, peanuts contain some anti-nutrients which can hinder the absorption of vitamins and minerals. Those who currently have a weak digestion already struggle to extract nutrients from their food and don't need more difficulty in absorption.

COOKING PEANUTS

Browse Recipes
Peanuts are often enjoyed as peanut butter. We see it in the classic pairing of peanut butter and jelly, and used as a stuffing for dates, to make nature's fudge. We also see it used in another childhood favourite, 'ants on a log', which is celery stuffed with peanut butter and topped with raisins. However Ayurveda would consider this a poor food combination because it has both beans and dried fruit.



Peanuts eaten whole, roasted and salted are classic favourites. However, we also see spices and honey used to create interesting taste combinations. 'Beer nuts', covered in sugar and salt, is an example of that sweet and salty combination that is so satisfying.

If we want to let the true flavour of the peanut shine through we can take them raw or, for a more creamy texture, boiled or soaked. When opting for whole peanuts, consider removing the skin which can be bitter and astringent due to the tannins present.



South Asian dishes make plentiful use of peanuts to create crunchy garnishes or creamy sauces, often paired with coconut. Peanut oil is a good choice to fry a whole turkey because of its high flash point, meaning it's less likely to catch fire, while giving good flavour. Often peanuts and peanut butter are a comfort food in the USA, but in areas of famine and malnutrition it can help provide much needed sustenance.

Note: For those with peanut allergies, many other nuts and seeds can be blended to create your own nut butters. Some, such as almond butter and tahini are already firm favourites. Sunflower seed butter and coconut butter are also beginning to grow in popularity. To make your own simply coconut butter, just blend coconut flakes until it becomes creamy. We love the fresh flavour of coconut butter with honey and a pinch of ginger, cardamom and turmeric.

Peanuts may be consumed dry roasted, boiled, salted, deep fried, soaked and raw. Products made from peanut include peanut flour, peanut oil, peanut butter and peanut protein. They are used as ingredients in foods such as cakes, snacks, desserts, sauces, and confectionery.

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WHY EAT AN AYURVEDIC DIET?

Eating Ayurvedically makes you feel nourished and energized. An Ayurvedic diet is tailored to your individual body type and the specific imbalances you are working with at any given time. Ayurveda shows you your specific body type’s needs and what should be favored in your Ayurvedic menu. Watch as you eat less but feel more satisfied because what you are eating truly nourishes you. Since Ayurveda believes all disease begins in the digestive tract, food is your first medicine. By eating a healthy diet that’s ideal for your body, you experience optimal health.

LEARN MORE

Are Peanuts Good for My Ayurvedic Diet?

Find out by taking this free, easy quiz. You'll learn your body type, and whether Peanuts is a good fit for you. Time to complete: approximately 1 minute.

AYURVEDIC MEDICINAL BIOCHARACTERISTICS

What is the biocharacteristic theory of medicine?

INCREASES Increases These Biocharacteristics (Gunas) Functional Ayurveda helps you assess imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (gunas). Aggravating these characteristics weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which characteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct imbalances before you get sick. Every characteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite characteristic. Learn More	DIFFICULT ABOUT DIFFICULT BIOCHARACTERISTIC Difficult refers to anything that is difficult to digest, or takes a long time to digest. LEARN MORE ABOUT DIFFICULT DRY ABOUT DRY BIOCHARACTERISTIC Dry is identified by lack of moisture, lack of fat, or anything that causes diuresis. LEARN MORE ABOUT DRY HEAVY ABOUT HEAVY BIOCHARACTERISTIC Heavy is identified by sedation, sluggishness, or increased weight. LEARN MORE ABOUT HEAVY HOT ABOUT HOT BIOCHARACTERISTIC Hot is identified by increased body temperature, metabolism, or inflammation. LEARN MORE ABOUT HOT OILY ABOUT OILY BIOCHARACTERISTIC Oily refers to anything fatty, or that increases fat. LEARN MORE ABOUT OILY TOXIC ABOUT TOXIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC A substance that causes toxicity in the body, or that harms the body. LEARN MORE ABOUT TOXIC
DOSHAS The Three Doshas / Body Types According to the biocharacteristic theory of medicine, people tend to get sick, over and over again, due to habitual causes and imbalances that are unique to the person. Your body type summarizes this tendency, showing you the 'type' of conditions and imbalances that frequently challenge your health & wellness. Using body type, you can also identify remedies likely to improve your strength and resiliency. Your body type identifies physical and mental characteristics as well as your personal strengths and weaknesses. The calculation of your body type is based on your medical history. The 3 functional body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha). Catabolic individuals tend to break down body mass into energy. Metabolic individuals tend to burn or use energy. Anabolic individuals tend to store energy as body mass. Catabolic people tend to be easily stimulated, hyperactive, underweight and dry. Metabolic people tend to be rosy-cheeked, easily irritated, focused, driven, and easily inflamed. Anabolic people are heavy, stable and grounded, but if they store too much energy, they could gain weight easily and have congestion. Learn More	AGGRAVATES
HAS THE FOLLOWING	EFFECT: Acidifying ACIDIFYING An herb that creates an acidic pH in the blood chemistry. LEARN MORE ABOUT ACIDIFYING , Rajasic RAJASIC Rajasic foods stimulate desire or nervous energy. Red meat, high protein food, garlic and onions stimulate desire. Rajasic foods include chili peppers, coffee, and anything that stimulates movement. LEARN MORE ABOUT RAJASIC , Tamasic TAMASIC Tamasic foods promote rest, sleepiness and stillness. Examples include wheat, mushrooms. LEARN MORE ABOUT TAMASIC TYPE: Nuts Seeds CONTAINS: Allergens, Tree Nuts ELEMENT: Earth EARTH Resembles earth (prithvi) in quality - heavy, dense, solid, stable, hard. LEARN MORE ABOUT EARTH , Fire FIRE Resembles fire (tejas) in quality - hot, sharp, penetrating, light, dry. LEARN MORE ABOUT FIRE SUBTASTE: Crunchy CRUNCHY Makes an audible noise when you eat them. Can provide fun texture variation. LEARN MORE ABOUT CRUNCHY NUTRIENT: Fats, Folate, Phosphorous, Protein, Vitamin E COLOR: Brown NOURISHES: Fat FAT Fat tissue (Meda Dhatu) includes adipose tissue and sebum (skin oil). LEARN MORE ABOUT FAT , Plasma PLASMA Plasma (Rasa Dhatu) includes plasma, white blood cells, and lymph. LEARN MORE ABOUT PLASMA

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES

Experiences are Personal

Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

Here are the herbal actions of Peanuts:

Digestion:

Nauseating

NAUSEATING

Brings about feelings of unease and discomfort in the stomach, often accompanied with the involuntary urge to vomit.

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Energy Vitality Strength:

Satisfies stomach

SATISFIES-STOMACH

Provides a sense of gratification and fullness in the stomach.

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,

Nutritive

NUTRITIVE

An herb that is strengthening and nourishing.

LEARN MORE ABOUT NUTRITIVE

Mind, Stress & Sleep:

Causes tension

CAUSES-TENSION

Increases feelings of tension, constriction and tightness in the body.

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,

Grounding

GROUNDING

Encourages feelings of stability and heaviness. Makes you feel settled, mentally relaxed. Mildly sedates the nervous system to ease stress. Can bring a spacey or anxious person back to earth.

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, Makes jittery

Find Your Symptom:

Dries mouth

DRIES-MOUTH

Makes the mouth feel dry, or pasty.

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,

Warms ears

WARMS-EARS

Stimulates peripheral circulation to warm extremities, including the ears.

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Bowel-Poop-Elimination:

High Fiber Laxative

HIGH-FIBER-LAXATIVE

A class of laxative that adds bulk and water to stools. The size of a stool stimulates peristalsis and the stool passes more easily through the colon. It is important to drink plenty of water when using high fiber laxatives, as they can be dehydrating.

LEARN MORE ABOUT HIGH-FIBER-LAXATIVE