Peanuts and peanut allergies

Peanuts are used for many purposes. Originating in South and Central America it is a part of the legume family and is also known as earthnuts, goobers, jack nuts, and monkey nuts. Edible peanuts account for two thirds of total peanut use in the U.S. Peanuts are one of the only nuts that are used for many different things.

Firstly, peanuts can be salted, providing for a quick snack or have grinded peanuts be used as an elegant part of a dish in a restaurant. The most common use is naturally, peanut butter; which is really the oily peanuts that are turned into a pasty substance. Peanut butter than is used for a countless number of things. To make a sandwich, candie, bakery products, and more. Some peanuts are bought unshelled, others shelled and salted. Most recently, peanuts can be fried, where they are eaten both shell and nut. As said before, peanuts (including other nuts) are commonly used for cooking, as well as the peanut oil.

This oil derived from peanuts has a mild flavor and burns at a high temperature. Boiled peanuts are a popular southern U.S. snack, as well as being popular in China. Peanuts are also used for bird feeder, and peanut shells can be put to use in the process of manufacturing plastic, fuel, and abrasives, as well as cellulose (used in paper) and mucilage (glue). Lastly, peanuts can be and are used for making hay and animal feeder. As you can see, peanuts seem to have a never-ending use. Next time you pop a peanut in your mouth, you’ll think of all of its other uses.

Peanut allergy is a very common and even potentially fatal food allergies. It is an immune system response to the peanut protein, causing the release of histamine chemicals. Recent studies show that over the last five to ten years there has been an increase in peanut allergies, mainly in children.

No definite answers are readily available, but one theory is that children are exposed to peanuts too early. Another well based reason is that our immune systems are not as functional as before, seeing that we live in a much cleaner environment and we aren’t exposed to as bacteria (which can help make your immune system more tough).

Peanut allergy symptoms have various effects on the body. These include hives, itchy red skin, congested runny nose, pain in stomach, nausea, swelling of airways, and shock (blood pressure drops). In serious cases, there will be large blockage of airways, resulting in possible death. Some allergies have been known to be outgrown, but this rarely happens with peanuts. No matter how minor an allergic reaction, you always want to be on the lookout, larger and more serious reactions are quite possible.

The only thing that can be done is prevention. Avoid use of peanut based substances and products. This means no peanut butter, roasted peanuts, salted peanuts, peanuts in candy, or any other peanut based product.

With people who known they may have severe allergic reactions, they should always carry a self-injectable form of adrenaline that could become their lifeline during an allergic attack. Like with all allergic reactions, they must be carefully dealt with care and be foreseen in the future.