Peanut Butter, Rich In Nutrition And Taste, Is A Winning Combination

Peanuts, also known as groundnuts in some parts of the world, are the edible seeds of a legume. Rich in healthy fats, protein and fibre, peanuts are helping many African countries fight malnutrition.

Used to make a variety of products—peanut butter, peanut oil, roasted peanuts, peanut sauce, peanut snacks, and more—peanuts have become a kitchen staple across the world.

With many of us now looking for more nutritious replacements for all kinds of foods, peanut butter is increasingly becoming a spread of choice, replacing salted butter. So, what makes it extremely popular with the health conscious?

Health benefits

Peanuts are a great source of protein, healthy fats and fibre. According to an article on Harvard Health Publishing, peanut butter is on par with olive oil in terms of the ratio of unsaturated to saturated fat. It also contains vitamins and minerals like potassium.

Walter C. Willett, Professor of Nutrition at Harvard School of Public Health writes, “Over the years, numerous studies have shown that people who regularly include nuts or peanut butter in their diets are less likely to develop heart disease or type 2 diabetes than those who rarely eat nuts.”

A report on the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) website states, “Additional research has shown that when peanuts or peanut butter are added to a high-glycaemic load meal, such as with a bagel and a glass of juice, they actually keep the blood sugar stabilized so that it does not rise too high too quickly.”

Food factor

Delicious and nutty in flavour, peanut butter makes for a great bread spread that can be paired with jam, bananas or apple.

A great source of protein, it’s a post-workout snack for many fitness enthusiasts, especially after a gruelling session at the gym. You can also add it to smoothies and breakfast bars to make them super-healthy.

You can also use it to make a divine dipping sauce to go with grilled vegetables, fish or chicken, or as a healthy dressing for an Asian salad. You can use it in your baking recipes too—a dollop of peanut butter can make your cake taste even better.