What are the main benefits of peanut butter?

Have you ever wondered about the benefits of peanut butter, little scientist? Peanut butter isn’t just for school lunches. It is surprisingly good for your health. Discover it on our blog!

What is peanut butter?

Peanut butter is a paste made from dry, roasted peanuts. This paste is generally used as a spread on toast or sandwiches. It is a healthy food that is full of nutrients such as:

• proteins,
• carbohydrates,
• monounsaturated fatty acids,
• folate,
• niacin,
• pantothenic acid,
• pyridoxine,
• riboflavin,
• thiamine (vitamin B1),
• vitamin E,
• vitamin C,
• vitamin A,
• sodium,
• magnesium,
• calcium,
• manganese,
• phosphorous,
• selenium,
• copper,
• iron and zinc.

 

What are the main benefits of peanut butter?

Apart from its great taste, peanut butter has vital nutrients that are essential for the body. The health benefits of this tasty butter include the following:

1. It helps you lose weight

Eating peanuts and peanut butter helps control hunger without leading to weight gain.

2. Healthy protein source

Peanut butter (100 grams) contains a high amount of protein (25 – 30 grams). Proteins that we eat are broken down into amino acids, which are then utilized in each and every cell for repairing and building the body.

3. Keeping your heart healthy

Many studies have repeatedly proved this: Peanuts can keep your heart healthy. It is widely recognized as a power food that can fight many cardiovascular diseases. Peanut products including peanut butter are found to be more beneficial to heart health than even low-fat diets.

4. Full of healthy fat

All of the fat in peanut butter is heart-healthy monounsaturated fat. A study found that insulin-resistant adults who ate a diet high in mono-saturated fat had less belly fat than people who ate more carbohydrates or saturated fat.

5. Lowers type II diabetes

Consuming peanut butter can also be beneficial in reducing the risk of type II diabetes. Peanuts contain not only protein but also unsaturated fats. Unsaturated fats have been noted to improve insulin sensitivity. Research into peanut butter consumption and diabetes showed that a higher intake of peanut butter and other nuts lowers the risk of type II diabetes.

6. Maintains blood pressure levels

Peanut butter has protein as well as potassium — which lowers the risk of high blood pressure, stroke and heart disease. While potassium has many sources, the potassium that you get from peanuts is special because it comes in a high protein and healthy fats and fiber package. This helps in managing blood pressure levels and avoiding health complications like stroke.

7. Prevents Cancer

Peanut butter contains B-sitosterol, a phytosterol that has a great property of fighting against cancer, particularly colon, prostate, and breast cancers. Peanuts and its products, such as peanut oil and peanut butter are ideal sources of phytosterols.

Curiosities:

• In the early 1900s, peanut butter was found in tea rooms as a fancy food for rich people.
• The USA has had two Presidents elected who were peanut farmers: Thomas Jefferson and Jimmy Carter.
• In one acre of land, there is enough peanuts to make 30,000 peanut butter sandwiches.
• Women and children like creamy peanut butter and men prefer crunchy.

 

With all these health benefits and more, we hope, we satisfied your curiosity and convinced you to have more reasons to love peanut butter, little scientists!  Keep tuned to our blog if you want to find out more interesting scientific fact and our latest news!