As human beings, we are concerned with the type of food we consume. Some people do not like food rich in calories as it may make their bodies unhealthy.
Some foods are consumed as the main meals while some come in as snacks. Both have different contents and this leads to people being choosy about what they consume.
Some of the foods consumed as snacks worldwide include walnut and peanuts and they are widely loved by many people.
Walnuts and peanuts are sometimes referred as to the same thing by people but they are totally different from each other.
They are both rich in Calcium, calories, dietary fiber, potassium, proteins, and saturated fats. They both have positive health benefits to the human body.
So, what is the main difference between walnuts and peanuts? Walnuts are higher in calories and fats while peanuts are higher in fiber and provide a larger percentage of daily values of several vitamins.
For more information about the difference between walnuts and peanuts in tabular form, continue reading the article. You will also get to know the similarities between the two.
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Comparison Table (Walnuts Vs Peanuts)
Basic Terms | Walnuts | Peanuts |
Classification | It is classified as a fruit. | It is classified as a legume. |
Calories | One hundred grams of walnuts contain 654 calories. | One hundred grams of peanuts contain 567 calories. |
Proteins | They have lower content. | They have higher content. |
Fats | They have comparatively higher content. | They have lower content. |
Fiber | They have comparatively less content of fiber. | They have a higher content of fiber. |
Acidity | It is more acidic. | It is less acidic. |
Carbohydrates | It has comparatively low content. | It has higher content. |
What are Walnuts?
Walnuts are from any tree of the genus Jugians. It is an edible seed of a drupe hence not a true botanical nut.
It is consumed as a nut after it has fully ripened. It is classified as a fruit and it has four major parts. They include; kernel, skin, shell, and the green husk.
The husk is removed and it reveals the wrinkly walnut shell which is found in three or four segments. The shell encloses the kernel which is made of two halves.
The seed kernels are enclosed in a brown seed coat that contains antioxidants. The antioxidants protect the rich seed from atmospheric oxygen.
The walnuts secret chemical into the soil where they have been grown to avoid other plants from growing in that area.
After harvest, they should be stored well as they are susceptible to insects and fungal mold infestation. The fungal molds produce aflatoxin chemical which is poisonous when consumed. Walnuts are used to garnish food or are taken as snacks.
What are Peanuts?
Peanut is also known as groundnuts and they are classified as legumes. They are not classified as true nuts.
Like any other legume plant, they have symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria in their root nodules. They require less nitrogenous fertilizers and improve soil fertility hence preferred for crop rotation.
They have similar nutritional value as other tree nuts such as walnuts and almonds. It has various parts which include; shell, cotyledons, seed coat, radical, and plumule.
The cotyledons are the ones consumed. They can be dry roasted or deep-fried. It can be made into different items such as peanut oil, peanut butter, peanut flour, or peanut proteins.
It can be used in the preparation of other foods, additive to other foods, or consumed as snacks. It is loved by many people all over the world.
Main Difference between Walnuts and Peanuts
- Walnuts are classified as fruits while peanuts are classified as legumes.
- Walnuts have a comparatively high amount of calories while peanut has low amount of calories.
- Walnuts have lower fiber content while peanuts have comparatively higher fiber content.
- Walnuts have a high amount of saturated fats while peanuts have a comparatively low amount.
- Walnuts have a comparatively lower pH value while peanuts have a higher pH value.
Similarities between Walnuts and Peanuts
- They are both considered nuts.
- Both are rich in minerals.
- Both have health benefits to the human body as they are plant products.
- Both can be consumed as snacks.
Conclusion
Both walnuts and peanuts are nuts that are loved by people all over the world and they are found nearly everywhere in the world.
They are mostly consumed as snacks but they can also be used in the preparation of other foods. They are rich in minerals which are essential for human bodies hence highly recommended by nutritionists.
However, the two are totally different from each other. The main difference between walnuts and peanut is that walnut is classified as a fruit while peanut is classified as a legume.
More Sources and References:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7065414/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walnut
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peanut