Peanut (Groundnut) oil is one of the healthiest oils.This vegetable oil is naturally trans fat-free, cholesterol free, and low in saturated fats. Peanut oil is high in unsaturated fats, especially monounsaturated fat. Because it has a higher smoke point, so it can be heated to a higher temperature than any other oil. This result in lower oil pick up in the food. So as to ideal for deep frying and healthy living.

Peanut oil has a ratio of SFA, MUFA and PUFA closest to WHO (World Health Organization) recommendations.

Dr. Penny Kris-Etherton of Pennsylvania state university and colleagues found that diets high in peanuts, peanut butter and peanut oil are as effective as olive oil in protecting against heart disease and are even more heart healthy than very low fat diets.

In the first study, conducted by Dr. Penny Kris-Etherton and Dr. Tom Pearson, five types of diets like low fat, olive oil, peanuts plus peanut butter, peanut oil and a typical American food with 35% fat were given to 22 healthy men and women aged between 21-54. At the beginning of the study, many of these persons had slightly elevated blood cholesterol level.

This study revealed that the diets which include peanut oil, peanuts plus peanut butter, and olive oil lowered total cholesterol (14%) and LDL - cholesterol (11%) in just 4 weeks. These diets were considered to be better than low fat diet as they lowered the triglyceride levels without affecting the HDL - cholesterol level.

Dr. Penny Kris-Etherton believes that the experimental results offer people a food option for increasing monounsaturated fats in the diet and adding variety, flexibility, and eating satisfaction to diet planning. The research team also believes that the positive effects from peanut products may go beyond beneficial fatty acids. Antioxidants, Vitamin E, folic acid, phytochemicals, fibre, minerals and plant protein present in peanut oil contribute to heart disease protection.

In an another study, Dr. Richard Mattes, Professor in the Department of Foods and Nutrition at Purdue University, showed that snacks of peanuts and peanut butter gave more satisfaction and feelings of fullness. After eating the peanuts and peanut butter, persons with normal weight -- who consumed seven different snacks -- did not in take more total calories but they increased the amount of heart-healthy monounsaturated fat in their diet.

In a different study, conducted by Dr. Frank Sacks and Kathy McManus, MS, RD, found that low fat diet is not required for the weight loss program to be successful. In this study, food with high saturated fat was replaced with food with monounsaturated fat like peanuts and peanut butter as they were tasty, satisfying and extremely nutritious.

Peanut (Groundnut) oil is high in mono-unsaturated fat, which is more stable and usually does not require artificial additives. It is considered to be the finest oil for cooking and frying. It is extremely robust and produces fewer flavour defects with long term use as compared with many other oils. Peanut oil also contains nutritional important natural antioxidants like tocopherol and tocotrionols as well as sterols, vitamin E etc., Dr. Trupti Kamat (Nutritionist) has explained this fact in his article Health Benefits of Groundnut oil.