Nowadays, people who are opting for healthier foods are looking for alternative healthy food items. Peanut butter is one of the best sources of proteins and is directly used as butter on the bread slice can be the best healthier food alternative. Peanut butter, as the name itself, suggests butter made out of peanuts. The scientific name of peanuts is Arachis hypogea, and it is a legume belonging to the family Fabaceae. Peanut butter was created by a physician in the 1890s as a protein substitute for people with bad teeth. Gradually, the American-originated peanut butter became popular all over Europe and Asia. Now, it is consumed all over the world.1 Peanut is considered to be a health nut. Let us look at its nutritional content and potential health benefits in the following sections.
Vitamins present in peanut butter:
Vitamin B1 (thiamin)
Vitamin B3 (niacin)
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)
Vitamin B7 (biotin)
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol)2
Some bioactive compounds known as isoflavones are present in peanut butter such as daidzein, daidzin, glycitin, genistin and genistein.2
Properties of Peanut Butter:
Peanut butter might have the following properties:
It might lower blood sugar levels
It might lower blood cholesterol levels
It might be helpful against cancer
It might fight against malnutrition
It might act as an anti-inflammatory
It might help against heart diseases.
Potential Uses of Peanut Butter for Overall Health:
Peanut butter also might be good for health as it is made from nutritious peanuts which are considered to be good for health in many ways. Peanut butter might be useful to our health in the following ways:
1. Potential uses of peanut butter for the heart
A study conducted by Fraser et al. in 1992 showed that the deaths caused due to heart diseases were less in populations who consumed peanuts and peanut butter. This might be because of healthy monounsaturated fatty acids, potassium, fibre arginine, magnesium and plant proteins present in peanut butter. Peanut butter prepared with skin may contain a bioactive compound called resveratrol which might reduce heart diseases such as atherosclerosis (blockage of blood vessels). However, more research is required to prove these effects of peanut butter. If you have any heart disease, you must consult your doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment. Kindly do not self-medicate.
2. Potential uses of peanut butter for cholesterol
Peanut butter might help in reducing elevated blood cholesterol levels. This effect might be due to the presence of phytosterols (beta-sitosterol, campesterols and masterol) in it. These bioactive compounds might reduce the absorption of cholesterol from the food that we eat. Thus, it might lower blood cholesterol levels. However, further research is required to prove these effects. So, kindly consult a doctor and do not self-medicate.
3. Potential uses of peanut butter for inflammation
Peanut butter is packed with phytosterols. Inflammation is the reaction of our body to any foreign particles or substance that enters our body. This mechanism is usually protective but can be harmful when it is activated without any reason. A study showed that phytosterols present in peanut butter might reduce the overactive inflammatory response in our bodies. However, further research is required on humans to prove the anti-inflammatory action of peanut butter.
4. Potential uses of peanut butter for hunger and malnutrition
Peanut butter may be a healthy snack as it might satisfy their hunger and make them feel full. This may be better than carbohydrate snacks. Moreover, the fat present in peanut butter might provide healthy calories and may be nutritious. It might nourish malnourished children as it is rich in vitamins (B1, B3, B6, B7 and E) and various minerals (calcium, iron, and zinc). But there is a need for more research to study the effects of peanut butter on human health.
5. Potential uses of peanut butter for diabetes
A study showed that peanut butter might help in lowering blood glucose levels. The exact mechanism is not yet known, but the compounds present in peanut butter such as fat, fibre and magnesium might help in reducing the risks of type-2 diabetes. This might be by altering the insulin sensitivity and reducing the glycaemic index (ratio of carbohydrates being converted to glucose). However, further research is required on humans to prove these effects. Moreover, diabetes is a serious condition. Kindly consult a doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment. Do not self-medicate.
6. Potential uses of peanut butter for cancer
A study showed that the consumption of peanut butter might help in reducing the risk of colorectal (intestinal) cancer. This might be due to the presence of resveratrol and phytosterols present in peanut butter which has antioxidant properties. However, much more research is required to prove the effects of peanut butter against cancer. Kindly consult a doctor for proper treatment and diagnosis.
7. Other potential uses of peanut butter
As peanut butter contains resveratrol, it might help against nerve degenerative diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, and tumours. It might also increase the flow of blood to the brain and may reduce the chances of brain stroke. Peanut butter might also help to reduce the chances of gallbladder stones. However, the potential use of peanut butter for these conditions needs to be further explored by research on humans.
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