Do you love a good peanut butter and jelly sandwich? No matter how old we are, some of us just never get enough of our childhood favorite. The good news is that while it might be something we loved as kids, peanut butter is actually great for us in our adult lives too! Peanut butter has many health benefits that we never even think of, and it can actually be a great source of protein for athletes or people who really enjoy playing sports. It’s also great for those looking lose weight. Would you have ever guessed?
Let’s take a step back in time. Just when did peanut butter first arrive on the scene? Peanut butter was first introduced at the St. Louis World?s Fair in 1904, and with good reason, it has stuck around ever since! In fact, peanut production around the world totals about 29 million metric tons per year. That’s a whole lot of peanut butter!
There are many different varieties of peanut butter but they all just about have the same health benefits, it just depends on what you prefer! There is smooth and creamy, crunchy, and also 100% peanut butter. Wait, doesn’t ALL peanut butter have 100% peanuts in it? The answer is actually no. According to FDA regulations peanut butter must be at least 90% to be considered “peanut butter,” but some peanut butter has other ingredients in it. If you love the peanut flavor of peanut butter, you might want to opt for a 100% peanut variety. You would be surprised to learn all about peanut nutrients!
1. They help with bad cholesterol
Has your doctor recently told you that your bad cholesterol (LDL) is high and that your “good cholesterol” (HDL) is low? It might be time to try and have more peanuts in your diet! Peanuts help raise the amount of HDL in your body and lower LDL that can affect your heart health. That way your heart can be more efficient and you can stay healthy. Try using peanut oil for frying instead of vegetable oil, or eating some peanut snacks instead of turning to crackers and cookies. Those with peanut nutrients can help your overall health in the long run.
2. Peanuts have a ton of Vitamin E
Peanuts are full of vitamin E, which is a powerful antioxidant that helps protect your body from free radicals. Free radicals can cause damage to your cells, so if you’re trying to protect your body, you should opt for peanut products. Boiled peanuts are great snacks, as well as trail mixes with peanuts and dried fruit. All of these peanut nutrients can keep you protected and healthy!
3. Peanuts have niacin
Niacin does many things for the body including keeping your skin healthy, preventing cardiovascular disease, and helping with arthritis pain. It is also known to help with blood flow to the brain. Peanut nutrients can do wonderful things for your body, and you can enjoy your favorite peanut snacks in order to reap the benefits!
What is your favorite peanut snack? Let us know in the comments below! See more.
