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Peanuts Benefits your Health
SharePeanut butter - your favourite childhood sandwich filler. Now there is glowing evidence suggesting peanut butter become your favourite filler for other reasons. Packed tightly with numerous amazing nutrients, peanut butter has many health benefits.
Research has found that nut consumption may be linked to a lower incidence of heart disease and other diseases. Associate director of global health and professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., United States Dr Xiao-Ou Shu, said that the ‘totality of evidence from nutrition and health research suggests that nut and peanut consumption can be considered a healthy lifestyle choice’.1
Heart Health
This humble peanut known as the little legume is a big ally of the healthy heart. This is because about half of their total fat comes from monounsaturated fat. This type of fat is known as the heart healthy fat and is popular in the Mediterranean diet.
Peanuts are also a rich source of the following nutrients:
- Resveratrol. This important phytochemical (also found in red wine and grape skins), has been found to protect against heart disease
- Vitamin E
- Folate
- Protein. Your body uses the amino acids (the building blocks to protein) to build and repair muscle tissue. Protein foods like peanut butter will keep you fuller longer, deterring you from snacking;
- Manganese and niacin;
Brain Health
Niacin rich foods such as peanuts have been shown in studies to protect against age related cognitive decline.
What to Look for in Peanut Butter
When shopping for peanut butter, look for a natural style product with little to no added fat, salt or sugar. If there is added fat, be careful to look which type of fat has been added. Canola oil can be harmful and should be avoided. Some companies add partially hydrogenated oils. This equates to trans fats.
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