All those who love Peanut butter, raise your hand. Yes, peanut butter is one of the favorites among both adults and children these days. No marks for guessing why. It tastes delicious, has a merely fantastic texture, and gives you an incredible feeling when it melts in your mouth. But have you ever wondered what this tasty liquid got for your health? Is peanut butter allergic? Does it increase your weight? All these questions and many more. In this article, we will find out all peanut butter benefits and effects on your health.
What Is Peanut Butter?
Is peanut butter only a paste of peanuts? No, it’s not. It is a portion of relatively unprocessed food. Essentially, it is made by roasting and grounding peanuts that ultimately turn into a paste. Still, most commercially available peanut butter products have vast oils, sugar, fats, and vegetables. Since consuming excess sugar can lead to several health disorders, one should always go for natural peanut butter instead of junk food.
Let us now discuss all the health benefits and adverse effects of including peanut butter in your diet to be fully aware of what is being served in the breakfast.
Pros:
- Reduced heart disease risk:
Unlike the common belief, peanut butter can prove helpful in reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. According to the study of JAMA Internal Medicine in 2015, it was found out that consuming as much as 30 grams of peanut butter can help decrease the risk of total mortality and death from cardiovascular disease.
Because peanuts are jam-packed with heart-healthy monounsaturated fat, they’re good for your heart as much as your waistline.
- Reduced diabetes
Being full of heart-healthy monounsaturated fat, peanuts are equally healthier for your heart than your waistline. Similarly, it has also been found out to be effective against the risk of developing diabetes. Several studies have proved that taking one tablespoon of peanut butter or one ounce of nuts at least a week can lower the risk of diabetes by over 20 percent.
- Improving mental health:
In one-way, peanut butter can also reduce your stress levels and improve your brain function. According to studies, nuts’ anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties can help reduce oxidative damage (stress). In short, monounsaturated fats found in nuts and olive oil are protective of brain health and function.
- Good Energy source
Would you trust me if I said that fats are better sources of energy than carbohydrates? This is true. The calories gained from healthy fats are immediately consumed by our bodies and are not stored. This gives an immediate feeling of increased energy. Since peanut butter is full of healthy fats and proteins, it can be categorized as a rich energy source.
Cons:
- Increased inflammation levels:
Omega-3 fats typically help counteract inflammation. At the same time, Omega-6 fats stimulate the production of inflammatory mediators. Since peanuts are rich in omega-6 fats, peanut butter can cause increased inflammation levels in your body.
- Allergies
Among what all people are allergic to, peanuts can be listed among the top few foods. Around 3 million people suffer from allergies tied to nuts and peanuts in general. This makes it challenging to appreciate peanut butter as a result. Fortunately, it’s been noted that up to 20 percent of people can develop an immunity to this type of allergy as they grow older.
- High Calories
Two tablespoons of peanut butter can contain approximately 188 calories, and this can certainly add up if you don’t keep this in mind. While this is true with just about any kind of food, this can quickly get out of hand if you prefer other types of peanut butter products like those mixed with chocolate or jelly. So if you decide to add peanut butter to your regular diet, it’s important to remember to take it in moderation.
Conclusion
Nothing in this world is as good and bad all in itself if it is not a poison. Peanut butter is no different. It comes with both its benefit and drawback. Its nutritional benefits, however, exceed its harmful effects and can never be written off. But despite all of the things stated above, we should try not to use peanut butter directly as a food material but should be preferred as a flavorful ingredient.