Peanut butter is obtained by grounding the peanuts and then making a paste. It is either smooth and creamy like butter or crunchy. Peanut butter is usually the key ingredient for chocolate cakes, brownies and cookies.
Peanut butter, which is almost like a staple food eaten at breakfast or perhaps any time of the day, in several countries around the world, has several interesting recipes associated with it. Peanut butter sandwiches, peanut butter cookies, peanut butter fingers or even peanut butter pancakes, there is absolutely no end to the variety of peanut butter recipes available.
Peanut Butter Benefits
Peanuts health benefits
are plenty. So, instead of pondering over the question is peanut
butter really good for you, let us find out why peanut butter is good
for you. It is discussed below:
Promotes a Healthy
Heart
Peanut butter and heart health go well together. Over
80% of fat content in peanut butter is made up of unsaturated fats.
Unsaturated fats are healthy fats that play a significant role in
lowering bad cholesterol, thereby decreasing the chances of coronary
heart diseases. It is a known fact that elevated cholesterol levels
are not good for the heart. This is because excess cholesterol starts
accumulating in the arteries that supply blood to the heart. With
build up of cholesterol, the arteries become narrow, which may
decrease blood flow to the heart. This can increase the risk of heart
attack. All these heart problems can be avoided by including peanut
butter (in moderation) in the diet. Research has also revealed that
having peanuts helps to minimize the chances of heart problems. One
can reap these heart health benefits by consuming peanut
butter.
Maintains Skin Health
Is peanut butter good
for your skin? Well, those asking this question would be glad to know
that peanut nut butter forms an integral part of healthy skin diet.
Peanut butter being a good source of healthy fats, can be helpful to
improve skin complexion. Peanut butter is found to be high in vitamin
B12 (Cobalamin), which promotes a healthy skin. Doctors opine that
diet lacking in vitamin B12 causes a pale skin. This peanut product
also contains riboflavin (vitamin B2), deficiency of which can make
the skin dry and scaly. Vitamin B2 supplements are often used to get
rid of skin problems like pustules, skin rash and rosacea. As peanut
is a good source of both vitamin B12 and B12, its addition in the
diet can certainly help to keep the skin healthy and
glowing.
Promotes Healthy Hair
Is peanut butter good
for your hair? As per peanut butter nutrition facts, the food product
provides vitamin B2 in considerable amounts, it is definitely
beneficial for proper hair growth. Peanut butter provides the
much-needed nutrition to maintain healthy hair.
Contributes
in Strengthening Bones
Is peanut butter good for your bones?
Yes of course! Apart from notable vitamin content peanuts also
contains essential minerals like calcium and magnesium. These
nutrients are considered to be crucial role for proper development of
bones. Thus, having a peanut butter sandwich can go a long way in
maintaining bone health.
Prevent Birth Defects
Another
important nutrient found in peanut butter is folic acid. Folic acid,
especially during pregnancy is very important so as to deliver a
healthy baby. This is because deficiency in folic acid in the early
stages of pregnancy increases the risk of birth defects in the unborn
baby. Therefore taking peanut butter during early pregnancy can
decrease the chances of birth defects and promote healthy delivery.
Does Peanut Butter Contain Saturated Fats?
Yes, this peanut product
has saturated fats and this is the reason why many ask is peanut
butter good for you. Some argue that saturated fats being one of the
constituents of peanut butter, this peanut product is not good for
health. Even the most healthiest oil used for cooking contains
saturated fats. So, does that mean that the cooking oil is unhealthy?
Absolutely not! The point is although saturated fats are present in
all healthy foods including peanut butter, it is in small amounts.
So, one really does not have to really worry about saturated fats in
peanut butter, as long as it is eaten in moderation.
Hydrogenated
oil has also been added in peanut butter. The process of
hydrogenation infuses trans fats into the oil, thereby making it an
unhealthy oil. However, the amount of hydrogenated oil added in
peanut butter is negligible. So, the total trans fat content in
peanut butter is also insignificant. In case, you are concerned about
hydrogenated oil present in peanut butter, there are quite a few
brands selling this peanut product devoid of trans fat. It is
referred to as unrefined, natural or fat-free peanut butter and
considered to be a better option healthwise.
Considering the
health benefits of peanuts and peanut butter, go ahead and have
peanut butter with bread during meals without fearing about those
saturated or trans fats, provided it is consumed in moderation.
Peanut Butter Side Effects
Allergic reactions are the most common side effects of peanut butter. In addition, processed peanut butter might contain added trans-fatty acids (which have been shown to increase the risk of cardiocirculatory diseases; however there should be no worries when taken in moderation). A further risk is that when badly preserved, it can host the mold Aspergillus flavus, that produces aflatoxin (a very toxic and carcinogenic substance), so your best bet is to always go with natural peanut butter.