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Peanut Butter

Peanut Butter is considered by many to be an essential part of an everyday breakfast, not much different from bread and jam. In addition to being delicious, it can also be very beneficial to the health of an individual.

Health Benefits of Peanut Butter

Let’s look at the various health benefits of peanut butter:

Source of Folic Acid

The naturally occurring form of the Vitamin B folic acid is recommended for the reduction of birth defects and lowered risk of heart disease. Peanut butter, with its high folate content, can prevent up to 70% of neural tube defects, which affect the brain and spinal cord during the earlier weeks of pregnancy.

400 micrograms of folate per day will also help to lower the risk of heart disease. It works with Vitamins B6 and B12 to remove homocysteine, an amino acid, from the body. Accumulation of this can cause a variety of heart damaging effects such as damaged arteries, so folate has a vital part to play in its prevention.

Lowering of Blood Pressure

Research has proven that there is a strong link between diet and high blood pressure. A diet which has a considerable amount of peanut butter is more likely to develop a lowering in the rate of blood pressure, than one which does not include it. Snacking on peanut butter 4 to 5 times a week is recommended for you health.

Protects against Breast Cancer

Peanut butter contains a large amount of monounsaturated fat. This fat can cut a woman’s risk for breast cancer, in half. Studies have proven that people with peanut butter or peanuts in their diet, have a decreased risk of contracting breast cancer and it is highly advisable to all women to consume it in order to stay healthy.

Lowering of Diabetes Risk in Women

Low glycemic foods such as peanut butter can significantly reduce the risk of non-insulin-dependent diabetes in women. A high glycemic which is also low in fiber can trigger the body to increase its production of insulin as it makes an attempt to regulate blood sugar levels. Insulin resistance could follow and the ability to produce insulin could decrease, which leads to non-insulin-dependent diabetes. Eating peanut butter which is low in glycemic content, lowers that risk.

Nutrients

The nutrients that peanut butter contains are:

• Calories
• Protein
• Fiber
• Fat
• Vitamin E
• Niacin
• Folate
• Vitamin B6
• Thiamin
• Riboflavin
• Magnesium
• Phosphorous
• Copper
• Potassium
• Iron
• Zinc
• Calcium

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