Interesting Protein Source

itishe

Master Don Juan
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My mom recently came back from Mazatlan, Mexico and she brought back some gum (Chiclets, etc) and she also brought back some peanuts. I looked at them and their Jalapeno peanuts and happened to read the back for nutrition information.

This is what I got:

One bag weighs 42 grams (1 serving)
210kcal
21g Carbs
and last but not least 9g protein

That seems very high to me for a small bag of hot peanuts.
 

Warboss Alex

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Peanuts are a legume - a complete protein but their amino acid structure isn't great. 21g carbs to get 9g of protein? No thanks. Interesting snack to sprinkle on salads, put in soups/chillis but no way should you use this as a protein source.
 

insidious

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Warboss Alex said:
Peanuts are a legume - a complete protein but their amino acid structure isn't great. 21g carbs to get 9g of protein? No thanks. Interesting snack to sprinkle on salads, put in soups/chillis but no way should you use this as a protein source.
Interesting - I've heard that nuts generally aren't the protein of choice. I thought it was just cause they are peanuts - didn't realize it had to do with them being legumes (which I never knew!)

I guess this means I should stop relying on beans also, correct? I love black beans, I cook and experiment with them all the time...
 

Warboss Alex

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Plant products aren't complete proteins - that is to say, they lack specific amino acids in their chemical structure. Muscle development requires complete proteins: meat, fish, dairy etc proteins.

Incomplete proteins can be combined to make a complete protein, such as rice and beans. Both have incomplete plant proteins but combined they give the full spectrum of amino acids. But you'd have to get a lot of carbs for a relatively low amount of protein, however complete. (rice = 10g protein, 80g carbs per 100g, beans is something like 5g protein and 12g carbs depending on the sort).

So use your beans as a good source of low GI carbs and fiber and vitamins, but not as a protein source. They're a good food choice in general but not for their protein.
 
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