Difference Between Nuts and Peanuts (With Table) 

People often mistake nuts and peanuts as the same thing. He gives pulses to both nuts and peanuts in the category, category of nuts. But it is not so, there are many differences between nuts and peanuts, which you should know. Everything separates them from the time they grow to their maturity.

Nuts vs Peanuts 

The main difference between nuts and peanuts is that nuts are grown on trees. On the other hand, Peanuts are grown in the ground. Due to these characteristics of their growth, they are considered to be fruit and crop respectively. 

A nut can be defined as a fruit. A nut is comprised of a hard nutshell. This hard nutshell acts as a shield for preserving a kernel that is generally considered to be edible. In a typical sense, nuts are a huge diversity of dry seeds. But in the terms of Botany, nuts insinuate that the shell does not widen up to free the seed. 

Peanut is known as a legume crop. Peanuts are majorly grown for their edible seeds. The cultivation of peanuts generally takes place in tropical and subtropical areas. Peanut is one of the most important members of the family of beans to both the small and big commercial cultivators. 

Comparison Table Between Nuts and Peanuts 

Parameters of Comparison

Nuts

Peanuts

Seeds

Nuts generally have one seed or utmost two seeds. 

Peanuts have multiple seeds. 

Countries

California, China, India, Turkey, etc. 

Georgia, Florida, Alabama, etc.

Types

Hazelnuts, walnuts, pistachios, cashews, etc. 

Runner, Spanish, Virginia, and Valencia.

Classification

Majorly classified as fruits 

Majorly classified as crops. 

Bioflavonoid

Nuts are not considered to be bioflavonoid as peanuts.

Peanuts are bioflavonoids. 

What is Nut? 

Nuts are considered to be one of the finest sources of protein, healthy fats, vitamins, fibers, and minerals. Nuts control body weights as their fats are not absorbed entirely, they control food consumption and aids in burning energy. Nuts are considered to be the most suitable snack food for traveling.

Chestnuts, pecans, walnuts, and hazelnuts these nuts can be perfect examples of nuts. Nuts can be one of the most enjoyable snacks to be taken. Nuts can also be used in cooking. Nuts are loaded with a huge amount of antioxidants. Nuts can also be proven helpful in lowering the level of cholesterol and triglycerides in your body. Nuts are also helpful in the reduction of possibilities of heart strokes and heart attacks. Nuts help our body in decrement of absorption of calories and the improvement of the health of the gut. Consumption of nuts improves the functions of our arteries.

According to researchers and experts, the consumption of nuts has proven to be much beneficial in the body of people suffering from various diseases such as diabetes, disease of the kidney, and various other critical health conditions. Nuts also help in the improvement of blood pressure and blood circulation in our bodies. Including nuts in your diet would help you a lot with your health and body. 

What is Peanut? 

Peanut is widely known as a legume crop and also an oil crop due to its high content of oil. In 2016, the annual production of peanuts in the world was about 44 to 45 million with China having about 38 percent of the total production. Typically among legume plant crops, rather than growing peanuts on the ground the plantation of peanuts pods is grown underground.

With this feature of peanuts, a well-known botanist, Carl Linnaeus named peanuts as hypogaea. Hypogaea means under the earth. Peanuts come from a well-known botanical family Leguminosae or Fabaceae generally known as the bean, pea, or legume family. Similar to major other legumes, peanuts port symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria in nodules of the roots. Peanuts have taste and nutritional values like tree nuts such as walnuts and almonds.

Peanuts originally originated in South America. Many products available in the market today contain peanuts as their main component. Peanuts are highly rich in fiber, protein, fats, and various other nutrients. According to experts and studies, peanuts have proven to be helpful in weight loss and reduction in risks of various heart diseases. You must add peanuts to your diet. Peanut is also considered to be one of the most fun snacks to have. 

Main Differences Between Nuts and Peanuts

  1. Nuts are widely considered to be indehiscent whereas peanuts are considered to be dehiscent. 
  2. Nuts are attached to ovary walls while peanuts are not attached to ovary walls. 
  3. Nuts are considered to be much healthy for the regulation of blood in our body than peanuts. 
  4. Nuts are not mono-structured as peanuts are. 
  5. When Nuts are mature and fall on the ground from the tree they remain intact while when the peanuts are mature they instantly open. 

Conclusion 

As mentioned above, everything sets them, Nuts and Peanuts, apart from their growth to their maturity period. Nuts grow on trees and groundnuts grow in the ground. Both require suitable conditions to grow. Nuts and Peanuts, both in their way, provide us with enough nutrients. We should make both of them an important part of our diet as this will go a long way in staying healthy on our part. And it is quite convenient to eat and carry both. Experts believe that nuts and peanuts are the major sources of nutrition. Consumption of both, nuts and peanuts is beneficial for our heart and various other organs in our body.

References  

  1. https://academic.oup.com/jn/article-abstract/138/9/1736S/4750848
  2. https://academic.oup.com/jn/article-abstract/138/9/1746S/4750850