What is Peanut Butter?
Peanut butter is a paste or spread made of dry-roasted peanuts from the ground. It often includes additional ingredients that alter the taste or texture, such as salt, sweeteners or emulsifiers. Peanut butter is served as a spread over bread, toast or crackers. And used to make sandwiches. Other nut butters like cashew butter and almond butter are similar.
6 Health Benefits of Peanut Butter
1. Source of Protein
100 grams of it 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. When you eat peanut butter you feel fuller for longer. Additionally, the protein is also good for building and repairing muscles, which is especially important if you work out a lot.
2. Heart Friendly
A research paper published in the Journal of Food Science and Technology in 2016 reported that peanuts are an excellent source of compounds such as resveratrol, phenolic acids, flavonoids and phytosterols that completely stop the diet from consuming cholesterol. The fat content of this is nearly equal to that of olive oil oils. When consumed in moderate amounts, eating high-quality nut butter like this can actually improve your heart health, especially when compared to those who seldom or never eat nuts.
3. More Potassium
It contains potassium (70 mg/100 g), which serves as an electrolyte and is a component in the body which regulates fluids. Compared to sodium, which in the case of hypertension specifically puts pressure on the cardiovascular system, potassium does not put any pressure on either the blood or the cardiovascular system. Potassium, in addition, is a heart-friendly component contained in peanut butter in high quantities.
4. Healthy Fat
The fat content is a common concern when eating peanut butter. However, peanut butter has more unsaturated fat than saturated fat, as described above. It is, in fact, a great source of “healthy fats.” A healthy body needs a good supply of healthy fats and peanut butter is a friendly fat food like olive oil and avocado.
5. Energy Booster
Peanut butter also is a good source of niacin and folic acid (they help convert food to energy) and vitamin E. In addition, the dense calories in it keep your energy level on an even keel and your hunger down throughout the day. And that, in turn, will prevent you from overeating and keep you eating healthfully all day.
6. Rich in Dietary Fiber
This has high dietary fiber content. One cup or about 125 g of both, respectively, has 12 g and 20 g of dietary fiber. Dietary fiber is one of the most important components of our diet as a lack of dietary fiber can lead to various health problems and diseases such as constipation, diabetes, cholesterol, and various heart diseases.