Tamale, July 28, GNA – Dr Bennett Dzandu from the Department of Nutrition and Food at University of Ghana has encouraged members of the public to consume peanuts to boost their nutrition.
He said peanuts contained substantial nutrients like proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, and fiber, which had health benefits for both adults and children.
Dr Dzandu gave the engagement during the 4th annual Ghana Groundnut Working Group meeting (GGWG) in Tamale on the theme: “Improving groundnut productivity and food safety amongst smallholder farmers”.
The three-day event, organised by Council for Scientific and Industrial Research in collaboration with Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Peanut, a USAID- funded research project that focuses on groundnut, was to foster interaction among individuals and organisations to strengthen partnerships to enhance the groundnut value chain in the country.
Dr Dzandu said peanuts contained bioactive compounds, which could be extracted and used as food supplements.
He indicated that peanut products contained health promoting substances such as phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and tocopherols, which have very good health benefits.
He added that peanut contained micronutrients such as vitamin E, folate, minerals, iron, potassium, magnesium, selenium, and zinc as part of the health benefits.
He further indicated that the peanut skin was also a source of natural antioxidants such as catechins and procyanidin, which could be extracted and used in food and dietary supplement formulations.
Dr Dzandu advised members of the public to consume more of the peanut-based products to ensure healthy lives.
GNA