I have been in the habit of eating roasted peanuts shell and and all since I was a teen.
My co-workers have seen this and are shocked, claiming that this has to be doing some damage to my inards. I have felt no ill effects from this.
Are my co-workers right? Am I playing with fire? Please help me with some info.
Your co-workers are nuts (no pun indended). I really don’t know the scientific answer to this question, but come on…I’d be more worried about choking on the shells that you didn’t chew enough than it ripping up your innards.
Indeed, roasted peanuts and unroasted peanuts have some critically distinct differences in chemistry which are significant to giving your intestines a workout. Look seriously into it if you’re curious.
As usual, The Master has already addressed this topic:
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_102b.html
Though I tend to eat about half of my peanuts shell-on, half shell-off. My Dad says shell-on gives him constipation. Thanks for that image, Dad.
“The dawn of a new era is felt and not measured.” Walter Lord