| Some good news for those of us who likes | | | | will lower total and LDL-cholesterol (the bad |
| peanut butter is that researchers at Harvard | | | | cholesterol) levels. The peanut and |
| University's School of Public Health found | | | | peanut-butter diet had the added benefit of |
| eating a half serving (one tablespoon) of | | | | lowering triglyceride levels. Heart disease |
| peanut butter or a full serving peanuts or | | | | is linked to high triglycerides. The low-fat |
| other nuts (an ounce), five or more times a | | | | dieters lowered cardiovascular disease risk |
| week, lowers the risk of developing type-2 | | | | by only 12 percent, while the peanut and |
| diabetes by as much as 20 to 30 percent. Dr. | | | | peanut-butter dieters lowered their risk by |
| Frank Hu, associate professor of nutrition | | | | 21 percent. |
| and epidemiology says, "the body of evidence | | | | |
| is overwhelming that peanuts and nut butters | | | | Another interesting finding at Penn State is |
| can reduce the risk of serious disease." | | | | that peanut eaters had lower body mass |
| | | | indexes (BMIs) as compared to non-peanut |
| Many years ago I worked in a medical facility | | | | eaters. High BMI (higher than 25) increases |
| where I often snacked on peanut butter and | | | | your risk of obesity-related problems like |
| loved it, but felt guilty. The nurse | | | | heart disease and/or diabetes. |
| practitioner in that facility told me peanut | | | | |
| butter is "very" healthy for you and in fact, | | | | On the negative side is that peanut butter is |
| she had once practically lived on peanut | | | | high in calories. A single serving or two |
| butter and crackers while going through | | | | tablespoons of low-fat or regular peanut |
| nursing school. I also just love a simple | | | | butter has about 190 calories. Just be |
| peanut butter fudge recipe that can be | | | | careful about eating a whole jar of peanut |
| whipped up in about 15 minutes. | | | | butter in one sitting. Peanut butter as a |
| | | | snack or a peanut butter and jelly on |
| Peanut butter contains about 90 percent | | | | whole-wheat bread is acceptable. I believe I |
| peanuts and is packed with vitamins A and E, | | | | put about 4 whopping tablespoons of peanut |
| folic acid, calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron | | | | butter in my fudge recipe. I usually eat a |
| and fiber. It is loaded with monounsaturated, | | | | batch all by myself in about 2 or 3 days. If |
| which is the so-called "good fat" that does | | | | I do that only once a month, I should still |
| not raise blood cholesterol levels. It is | | | | be fine at my next doctor's appointment. |
| also virtually trans fat free according to | | | | |
| the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Healthy | | | | Disclaimer: *This article is not meant to |
| eating habits definitely include "peanut | | | | diagnose, treat or cure any kind of a health |
| butter." Peanut butter lovers all over the | | | | problem. These statements have not been |
| world no longer have to feel guilty. It is | | | | evaluated by the Food and Drug |
| good for us. Yey, rah rah for Peanut Butter. | | | | Administration. Always consult with your |
| | | | health care provider about any kind of a |
| Other encouraging studies include ones done | | | | health problem and especially before |
| at Penn State University where researchers | | | | beginning any kind of an exercise routine. |
| compared a low-fat diet to one that was | | | | |
| higher in monounsaturated fat from peanuts | | | | This article is FREE to publish with the |
| and peanut butter. Results were both diets | | | | resource box. Article written 3-2007. |