Peanuts are more than the traditional snack to enjoy at baseball games in the iconic peanut butter and jelly sandwich; they’re also a global culinary superstar and a nutrient powerhouse. The Folklore Native to South America, this dietary staple dates back thousands of years. The Aztecs used peanuts medicinally to cure fever and soothe sore gums. Today, every part of the peanut is put to good use. The Facts Nut-like but not a nut, the peanut (Arachis hypogaea) is a legume in the same family as peas, lentils, and beans. Each brown, veined pod or shell houses two or three “nuts”—kernels encased in a reddish papery skin. A one-ounce serving, about a handful, packs a filling 13 percent DV (daily value, based on 2,000 calories per day) of protein, 29 percent DV of bone-building manganese, a healthy dose of monounsaturated fatty acids, and antioxidant plant compounds. The Findings Tree nuts …