Peanut and Cholesterol

It is said that peanut can cause us to be fat, increase our cholesterol level, and also triggering acne Is it right?

The fact, it was happened to my self. A few years a go my cholesterol level is more than 200 mg/dL. I was so shock about it. I’m not fat, so what made my cholesterol level being so high?

After that I began to stop consuming Bakso (meat ball). It was so hard because bakso is my favorite food. Beside that I also begin to consume peanut and another legumes. They said I was crazy! They thought consuming peanut can increase my cholesterol level rapidly. But they were wrong. A few months later I checked my cholesterol level again and getting it lower than before.

How could it be?

Before, we should know about LDL and HDL.

LDL - Low Density Lipoprotein is well known as Bad Cholesterol. When cholesterol that is used in the body's cells has been sufficed, the cells will not receive cholesterol again, so the levels of LDL cholesterol in the blood begin increase and store excess of cholesterol in the artery wall. It cause blockage of blood flow in to heart and brain.
HDL - High Density Lipoprotein, is known as Good Cholesterol. HDL removes cholesterol excess in the blood to the liver for disposal.

Fat in peanuts are unsaturated fats that actually benefit to our body. Peanuts contain Omega 3 which are polyunsaturated fats and Omega 9 which is a monounsaturated fat. 1 ons peanuts are contained 18 grams and 17 grams of Omega 3 Omega 9.

Polyunsaturated fats can decrease total cholesterol. They are found in corn oil and soybean oil.
Monounsaturated fats are the best fats, because they can reduce LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein) and increase HDL (High Density Lipoprotein). They are found in peanut oil, fish and vegetables.

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But of course it is depended on the way we cook that peanut. Frying it with cooking oil can increase the level of LDL that can increase our cholesterol level.