The Effects of Peanuts on Females: the peanut & sexual health link

Our articles may contain affiliate links. For more information, view our policies.

Peanut is a health food? You might be surprised to discover the benefits of peanuts, particularly when it comes to women’s sexual health. But the effects of peanuts on females aren’t limited to just sex drive. There are so many reasons women should eat peanuts. And that goes for peanut butter as well.

View the list of all 10 of the Best Foods for Women’s Sexual Health

Table of Contents

Are peanuts healthy?

Like tree nuts, peanuts offer the body a healthy source of fat. You may have heard the term “good fat” before. Despite what many popular diets might have you believe, we need a healthy amount of fats for the delivery and storage of many essential nutrients. And peanuts, or even peanut butter, can give us the nutrients our bodies crave. The healthy fat in peanuts may benefit both men and women but we’ve chosen peanuts for women for some particular benefits to female health.

The benefits of peanuts sexually for females

It may seem hard to believe, but there are so many ways the health benefits of peanuts can support a woman’s sex life. Here’s a look at the many ways peanuts affect women sexually.

Fiber (yes, fiber)

The peanut is a member of the legume family. (Legumes basically include all members of the pea family, like soy.) And, as a legume, the peanut offers all-important fiber. Fiber, for women, can potentially boost sexual confidence by reducing bloat and helping you look and feel your best. And you might be surprised to learn that the fiber in just one ounce of peanuts is about 9% of your daily fiber requirement.

Nutrition women need

Although they are calorie-dense, peanuts are packed with nutrition to support a woman’s sex drive and sexual function. A one-ounce serving of salted, dry roasted peanuts contains:

164 calories
6.6g protein (13% DV)
2.2mg vitamin E (11% DV)
3.8mg niacin (19% DV)
40.6mcg folate (10% DV)
.6mg iron (6% DV)
49.3mg magnesium (12% DV)
184mg potassium (5% DV)
.9mg zinc (6% DV)
.6mg manganese (29% DV)

As you can see, peanuts offer many nutrients important to women’s health, like folate, a nutrient essential to the female reproductive system. And this nutrient is somewhat difficult to get from food sources. It is essential to women trying to get pregnant and can help protect the developing fetus from birth defects during pregnancy.

The legume is also a source of biotin, which is another key nutrient to women during pregnancy. In addition, biotin is also necessary for producing the keratin needed for healthy hair and nails, which is why you see it in many beauty supplements.

Fighting signs of aging

Resveratrol is the phenolic compound found in wine that caused the mainstream media to declare drinking red wine a “healthy” activity. And like red wine, peanuts are considered a source of resveratrol.

Resveratrol shows beneficial effects against cardiovascular disease and may have some anti-cancer benefits. But it is also known for fighting the visible signs of aging. So, similarly to fiber, the resveratrol in peanuts may not directly boost your sexual performance, but it could work to help you look and feel sexier with its anti-aging abilities.

Improving energy

And like all legumes, peanuts offer the body a good source of plant-based protein. In fact, they’re considered among the best sources of vegetarian protein. And this goes for other peanut products, too, like peanut butter and peanut flour. It should be noted that peanut flour is not just a source of protein but a naturally gluten-free flour.

And while you know that you need fiber for energy, you might be wondering how protein-rich foods benefit sexual health. But the answer is very simple. Sex is a healthy form of exercise and one that requires protein for sustained stamina. A healthy protein source like peanuts may even help you last longer in bed.

Supporting weight loss

Peanuts are associated with supporting weight loss goals. Many nutritionists recommend both peanuts and tree nuts as a part of a healthy diet because they are known to curb cravings. Peanuts, along with tree nuts like cashews and almonds, also take longer to digest than most snack foods because of their nutritious combination of protein, fiber and healthy fats. In one 2009 study, it was discovered that women who ate peanuts regularly were at lower risk of long-term weight gain and obesity than those who did not regularly eat the legume. And keep in mind that obesity is linked with sexual dysfunction in women.

Longevity

Most interestingly, in a study led by the Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, Utah, it was discovered that one of the effects of peanuts on women is that when eaten regularly, eating peanuts can increase the eater’s longevity.

Benefits for both sexes

There are some nutrients in peanuts that benefit both women’s and men’s sexual health. In addition to the nutrients in peanuts mentioned above as benefitting women’s health, many of the nutrients found in peanuts benefit both women’s and men’s sexual health. Vitamin E, which is sometimes called “the sex vitamin,” is essential to sperm and sex hormone production. According to Nature’s Aphrodisiacs, some proponents say it gives the taker a rush of sexual energy when taken before sex. (Please keep in mind that this claim has yet to be studied in clinical trials.)

In addition, peanuts are a source of magnesium, niacin and manganese. Magnesium is necessary for sexual functioning in both men and women. In studies on both women’s sexual function and erectile dysfunction in men, niacin showed promise in boosting the sexual performance of both sexes. The manganese in peanuts is often considered a benefit for men more than women’s health. That’s because manganese is linked with a loss of sex drive and semen in men. And finding good sources of manganese is more important for men than women because men have a higher daily requirement.

This tasty legume is a source of arginine. This nutrient is one often linked with men’s sexual health because it helps keep blood pumping at a regular rate. Not surprisingly, a 2017 Harvard study showed that eating a few servings of peanuts per week may improve your heart health, which can also potentially improve sexual function and sexual satisfaction for both men and women.

Is a peanut a groundnut?

You may have heard that groundnuts are good for women’s health. And you might have wondered if the term groundnut refers to peanuts.

A peanut is a type of groundnut. In North America, we tend to use the names peanut and groundnut interchangeably. But in other parts of the world, groundnut can refer to other leguminous crops related to the peanut. So if you’re told that groundnuts benefits sexually can be remarkable for women, you might want to check with the source as to whether they’re talking about peanuts or another groundnut.

Side effects of eating peanuts

Peanuts are considered relatively safe for most individuals, with the exception of those with peanut allergies. However, there is a risk of ingesting a toxic fungus called aflatoxin, found mostly in humid, tropical climates. However, according to the National Peanut Board, the risk of a consumer being exposed to aflotixin in U.S. peanut products is extremely low.

Eating large quantities of salted peanuts can also increase your sodium intake so you should make sure to monitor the sodium in your peanuts.

But a peanut allergy is really the greatest risk of eating peanuts. Peanuts are among the most common allergins today. And they can trigger a life-threatening response in some individuals. Those with a known peanut allergy should avoid the legume and depending on severity, some individuals may even need to be careful about avoiding contact to the eyes and nose.

How to incorporate peanuts into your diet

Now that you understand the link between peanuts and health, you might want to consider keeping a package of portable peanuts in your bag for a healthy boost of energy on the go. Keep in mind that peanuts do go bad. Stored on the shelf or in your bag, peanuts generally last for about four weeks before they start to go rancid. If you know you aren’t going to eat peanuts quickly enough, you can freeze them in an airtight container. Or try using peanuts in one of these easy recipes:

Turkey Congee with Cranberries and Peanuts
Shredded Veggie Chicken Bowl with Peanut Sauce
Asian Fish Tacos
Soba Noodles for Two
Cacao and Raspberry Oats
Easy Flourless Peanut Cookies

10 Best Foods For Women
Up Next: Strawberries

Edited by Delahna Flagg: This article was reviewed and additional research provided by Center for Mind-Body Medicine certified practitioner and Eat Something Sexy Nutrition Director Delahna Flagg.

Disclaimer: Please note that the information provided in this article is intended for informational purposes only and not to replace medical care. It is important to consult your physician before making dietary changes.

This article was written in 2015 and most recently updated in February 2023.

From Farm to Bedroom: Surprising Strawberry Benefits for Women's Sexual Health

Chile Pepper Benefits for Women: a great anti-aging food

The Best Soft and Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe (flourless)

The Health Benefits of Oranges and Other Citrus Fruits

The Health Benefits of Tofu for Women

Author
Recent Posts

Amy Reiley

An award-winning author of five aphrodisiac cookbooks with an MA in Gastronomy, Amy Reiley has spent the past 18 years studying the history and science behind aphrodisiac foods. She speaks on aphrodisiacs globally and has brought her knowledge of aphrodisiac foods to national television shows including The Today Show and CBS Early Show. Amy is also a freelance food, wine and health writer and wine competition judge. Her work has appeared in publications ranging from Variety to The Daily Meal. She is a former wine editor for Gayot.com and wine & spirits editor of Las Vegas magazine. Most importantly, Amy is a mother to 2 human children and 1 standard poodle.