Is Peanut Butter Healthy? – All Myths In Check

Peanuts – a healthy power snack

Although it bears the name in its name, the peanut is not a nut from a botanical point of view. It belongs to the legumes because it does not grow on a tree but on the ground.

• For a long time, peanuts were notorious as an unhealthy, fattening snack. However, a long-term study with over 130,000 participants at the University of Maastricht found that the bad reputation of peanuts is completely unjustified.
• Peanuts are in no way inferior to healthy walnuts, almonds, or hazelnuts. On the contrary: Scientists attested that peanuts have a high added value for our health.
• Basically not surprising, because, in addition to antioxidants, they also contain fiber, minerals, vitamins, and unsaturated fatty acids. Therefore, even a handful of peanuts a day should protect against cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and the formation of tumors.

Peanut butter – the spread really is that healthy

Peanut butter originally comes from North America, where it was invented by John Harvey Kellogg, who also created the breakfast cereal of the same name. After the health-promoting effect was attested to peanuts, the question naturally arises as to whether the same applies to the spread.

• The question of the extent to which peanut butter also has a good effect on our health is difficult to answer in general. This largely depends on the composition of the respective product.
• Especially the very inexpensive spreads often contain ingredients such as a lot of sugar, trans fats, and preservatives. The benefit to your health is correspondingly small.
• Therefore, when choosing peanut butter, pay attention to the ingredients used and that the proportion of peanuts is at least 70 percent. Trans fats, preservatives, and sugar shouldn’t even be on the ingredients list.
• Peanut butter or peanut cream is usually significantly better for your health. In contrast to peanut butter, peanut butter is always made from 100% aromatic legumes.
• Alternatively, you can simply make your own peanut butter or peanut cream. Put the peanuts in the blender with some peanut oil and a little salt. If you like it a bit crunchier, take the peanut butter out of the appliance a little earlier so that the cream is interspersed with small pieces of peanuts.
• Tip: The healthy version of peanut butter is also a calorie bomb. Therefore, do not overdo it when consuming the spread.