Former U.S President, James A. Garfield once rightly said, “Man cannot live by bread alone; he must have peanut butter”. Simply put, peanut butter is roasted peanuts ground into a smooth paste. It can be made at home, but many of us choose to skip the trouble and buy commercial peanut butter. The commercial brands of course combine it with other food additives to enhance its flavor. First invented and patented by a Canadian named Marcellus Gilmore Edson in 1884, peanut butter has come a long way since then. Almost every child loves a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Even adults can’t help but binge on the creamy paste, believing that there’s absolutely no worry in life that peanut butter can’t solve. This versatile ‘butter’ can be used as a flavoring agent in almost any dish on earth. However, it does have the ability to stand on its own feet and declare to the world that it’s a hero in its own right. Love it or hate it, you just can’t ignore it. Are you spoilt for choice, or do you want to know if it’s good for health? Read on to find out more about this wonderful invention.
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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/09/alzheimers-smell-test-peanut-butter_n_4072892.html?ir=India&adsSiteOverride=in
Different Kinds Of Peanut Butter:
• Natural Peanut Butter
Though the name might suggest otherwise, natural peanut butter does contain food additives like sweeteners and salt. However, they do not contain any hydrogenated oils (which are also called trans fats). Due to the lack of these partially hydrogenated oils, the peanut butter might separate into two layers, which is not a matter of concern. What makes the natural peanut better one of the best choices is the fact that it is completely devoid of aflatoxin, which is known to be carcinogenic.
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http://healthyeatingforfamilies.com/homemade-peanut-butter/
• Organic/Self Ground Peanut Butter
Organic peanut butter is now the new fad and this particular item is gaining popularity with the health-conscious section of the society. They lack additives and hydrogenated oils, and thus are quite beneficial. However, organic peanut does contain high levels of aflatoxin, which can cause liver cancer.
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http://sallysbakingaddiction.com/2012/04/05/how-to-make-homemade-peanut-butter/
• Standard/Regular Peanut Butter
Standard or regular peanut butter tastes better than the natural or organic varieties, but they are also steeped in partially hydrogenated oils. Whether partially or completely hydrogenated, it is best to avoid standard peanut butter for nutritional reasons and opt for a natural or organic one instead.
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http://rosieschwartz.com/2012/09/10/think-peanut-butter-is-mostly-peanuts-think-again/
• Reduced-fat Peanut Butter
Don’t get fooled by its name, since reduced fat does not always mean healthy. The fat that is removed from peanut butter is replaced by additional sugar. Hence there is absolutely no decrease in the calorie count. If it’s still harmful for your health, why bother choosing this variant?
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http://www.downeastfood.com/products/peanut-butter/
Nutritional Benefits Of Peanut Butter:
Too much of anything is never any good and peanut butter follows the same rule. However, when taken in optimum quantities on a regular basis, this nutrient-loaded childhood favorite can actually be extremely beneficial for our health. It keeps several medical conditions under control and helps boost our immunity. Here’s how peanut butter wins the game:
• Peanut Butter, Weight Watchers?
A lot of us are fond of peanut butter sandwiches as a kid, but the moment we start growing up we pay a lot of importance to our appearance and what others think of us. That includes being fat, which is always a big no-no. To watch our weight we give up on a lot of favorite food, and that also means peanut butter. However, good news for all of us! Peanut butter is actually very helpful if you want to lose weight. With loads of protein and fiber, you will be left feeling full for a longer time, which means you will be eating less.
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http://healthfore.com/blog/2014/05/22/want-to-lose-weight-now-theres-my-meal-mate-app-for-that/
• Not All Fat Is Bad
Peanut butter has monounsaturated fat, which is good for our heart. Of course, it depends on whether you’re buying the natural one or the reduced-fat variant. You will be doing yourself a favor by avoiding the reduced-fat peanut butter.
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http://watchfit.com/healthy-eating/peanut-butter-make-fat/
• It Is Nutrition Galore
Peanut butter is choc-a-bloc with various nutrients, including vitamins B6 and E, magnesium, potassium. Vitamin B6 improves our immune system, magnesium helps strengthen our bones, potassium assists in building muscles, and vitamin E acts as an antioxidant.
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http://www.photos-public-domain.com/tag/peanuts/
• Potassium, Potassium, Potassium
Looking closely at the nutrition provided by peanut butter, potassium is the most helpful of all. Not only does it allow us to build our muscles, potassium also helps counter the side-effects of the high sodium diet that we are used to consuming each day.
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http://www.strengthmatters.tv/new-research-reveals-how-vitamin-e-maintains-healthy-muscles/
• Need Some Energy?
Substitute butter or table margarine with some peanut butter, and be rest assured you won’t be disappointed. Peanut butter tastes delicious, and the healthy fat and protein it contains, give you loads of energy to go about your daily routine.
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• Rich in Fiber
Just 2 tablespoons of peanut butter each day can translate into an efficient fiber supplier for your body. This will aid your digestion, keep diabetes at bay, and avoid coronary disorders as well as weight gain, helping you maintain good health on a daily basis.
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http://www.thelatestnews.com/regular-consumption-of-soft-drinks-linked-to-diabetes/
• Heart Friendly
Daily consumption of small quantities of peanut butter can cut down on bad cholesterol and increase the amount of good cholesterol in your body. According to the Harvard Medical School, peanut butter helps you maintain a healthy heart, owing to the high percentage of unsaturated fats it contains.
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• Say Bye to Alzheimer’s Disease
Niacin is an important nutrient when it comes to preventing Alzheimer’s disease. This healthy vitamin B is found in peanut butter, and hence advocates eating peanut butter regularly in controlled doses.
Photo Credit
http://blogs.psychcentral.com/celebrity/2015/05/lawrence-of-arabia-star-omar-sharif-living-with-alzheimers/
Peanut Butter Nutrition Facts:
Amount: 1 Cup
Total Weight: 258 g
| Nutrients | Amount |
| Calories | |
| Total Calories | 1517 |
| From Carbohydrate | 204 |
| From Fat | 1088 |
| From Protein | 225 |
| From Alcohol | 0 |
| Carbohydrates | |
| Total Carbohydrates | 51.6 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 15.5 g |
| Starch | 12.4 g |
| Sugars | 23.8 g |
| Fats & Fatty Acids | |
| Total Fat | 130 g |
| Saturated Fat | 27.1 g |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 62.5 g |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 36.5 g |
| Total Omega-3 fatty acids | 201 mg |
| Total Omega-6 fatty acids | 36329 mg |
| Total trans fatty acids | 0 |
| Total trans-monoenoic fatty acids | 0 |
| Total trans-polyenoic fatty acids | 0 |
| Protein | 64.7 g |
| Vitamins | |
| Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol) | 23.2 mg |
| Vitamin K | 1.5 mcg |
| Thiamin | 0.2 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.3 mg |
| Niacin | 34.6 mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 1.4 mg |
| Folate | 191 mcg |
| Vitamin B12 | 0.0 mcg |
| Pantothenic Acid | 2.7 mg |
| Choline | 163 mg |
| Betaine | 2.1 mg |
| Minerals | |
| Calcium | 111mg |
| Iron | 4.8mg |
| Magnesium | 397mg |
| Phosphorus | 924mg |
| Potassium | 1674mg |
| Sodium | 1184mg |
| Zinc | 7.5mg |
| Copper | 1.2mg |
| Manganese | 3.8mg |
| Selenium | 14.4mcg |
| Fluoride | 8.0mcg |
| Sterols | |
| Cholesterol | 0 |
| Phytosterols | 263mg |
| Other | |
| Alcohol | O |
| Water | 4.7 g |
| Ash | 8.1 g |
| Caffeine | 0 |
| Theobromine | 0 |
Tips to use Peanut Butter:
1. Sandwiches
Pressed for time, and you have no clue what to make for breakfast? Just spread two tablespoons of peanut butter on some slices of bread, and your morning meal is ready. Remember, you won’t be feeling hungry till lunch. For children, add some grape jelly; trust me, the combination works wonders.
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http://foodimentary.com/author/jerrymatthewmorris/
2. With Fruit
You could mix a dollop of peanut butter with your preferred fruits. Bananas especially are the perfect partner for the rich butter. Other fruits that complement peanut butter well are grapes, pears and apples.
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3. Use It As A Dip
Having guests over this evening, and you don’t have time to make a delicious dip? Just serve a few spoonful of peanut butter in a small bowl, and your guests will be leaving your house with a happy heart.
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http://www.recetasricas.net/fondue-de-crema-de-cacahuate/dsc03789-5/
4. Cookies
Peanut Butter Cookies are heavenly delights when you have a sweet tooth. They are classic munchies, and several variants are also available if you like experimenting.
Here’s a recipe:
http://startcooking.com/hershey-kiss-cookie
Photo Credit
http://garlicgirl.com/2012/07/04/roasted-peanut-peanut-butter-cookies/
5. Sauces
Go crazy with the sauce, particularly if you love Asian food. Make the famous peanut sauce and use it either as a dip for those yummy fritters or as a dressing for the crunchy salad.
Want to know how to make a sauce? Check the link out:
http://cookingwithamy.blogspot.in/2005/07/perfect-peanut-sauce-recipe.html
Photo Credit
http://msbuenavida.com/ms-buena-vida-1/2013/01/14/thai-peanut-chicken-wraps
