Peanuts are a highly popular food of high nutritional value around the world. But despite the fact that it is an excellent source of protein and is high in various vitamins, minerals and plant compounds, this food can pose a serious risk to our health.
If the proper growing and storage conditions are not observed, this legume, also known as peanuts, can end up infected by some kinds of fungi.
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These molds produce aflatoxins, toxic substances that pose a serious danger to human health, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
“Peanuts are exposed to aflatoxin, which is a fungus associated with liver cancer,” Victoria Glass, a doctor at the Farr Institute in the UK, told the Eat This, Not That! Portal.
In fact, aflatoxins are, according to the WHO, “potent carcinogens” that can affect any organ or system in our body, but they attack the liver and kidneys in particular.
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These substances are the cause of liver cancer, as the specialist pointed out, but they have also been linked to other types of cancer.
According to the health authority, aflatoxins are genotoxic, that is, they are capable of causing DNA damage and can cause birth defects in children. Studies also suggest that they could be behind growth retardation in children.
In addition, aflatoxins are immunosuppressive substances, so they are capable of reducing our body’s resistance to infectious agents, such as the tubercle bacillus or HIV.
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To reduce the possibility of exposure to these toxic substances, the WHO recommends that consumers carefully inspect peanuts (and also cereals and tree nuts) for fungus. Those that have a moldy, discolored or withered appearance should always be discarded. In addition, it is advisable to buy peanuts that are as fresh as possible and that have not been transported for a long time.
Beyond aflatoxins, there is another red flag to watch out for when consuming peanuts, Glass says. This food can cause some discomfort and even be fatal for some people.
Peanuts “can cause severe allergic reactions in some people,” clarifies the doctor.
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That means that while peanuts are nutritious and relatively healthy foods compared to various other snack options, some precautions need to be taken into account before consuming them, concludes ETNT.
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