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