Eat Peanut Butter
Americans spend almost $800 million a year on peanut butter so it’s obvious that we enjoy it.
Even though many people think it is a good source of protein, this is not true. It is a good source of fat. And while it is often referred to as a “healthy fat”, it is still a fat, and fats are calorically dense. In other words, a little bit of peanut butter has a lot of calories making it easy to overeat, especially when it’s so convenient to simply scoop the spoon into the jar and lick it clean!
Peanut butter is considered a fat because the majority of its calories come from fat. There may be a few grams of protein or carbs, but those comprise much less of its total calories than the calories from fat.
Should you stop eating it?
No. Fat is not the enemy. And there are benefits to eating peanut butter.
However, do you know which type is the best for you?
Would it be regular, reduced fat, or natural?
Regular? No. Companies like Jif, Skippy, and Peter Pan took delicious, yummy peanut butter and added sugar and hydrogenated fats.
Reduced fat versions? No. Those same companies removed the natural, healthy fat of the peanut and replaced it with trans fats, thickeners, and sugars just so they could boast a lower fat total on the label. Clearly they chose marketing and adding to their bottom line over giving consumers the natural health benefits of their own product
The answer is…
Natural peanut butter. Look for the jars that display “Natural” on the front label, and then read the ingredient list. If it includes anything other than peanuts and possibly salt, it is not natural. You were misled. Oil doesn’t need to be added because it already includes natural oil. This is what you may see sitting at the top of the jar.
Natural peanut butter is the peanut butter you should eat. This is true for any type of nut butter – almond, cashew, you name it. Choosing an organic nut butter does not mean it is nutritionally better for you than the others. This is true for all foods. For instance, organic cookies are still cookies!
