On the surface it looks rather fatty, caloric… And yet, peanut butter turns out to be an interesting food from a nutritional point of view.
Invented by American physicians in 1890 to provide nutritious, protein-rich foods to people who had difficulty chewing meat due to dental problems, peanut butter has been very popular in France for a few years as an alternative to peanut paste. spread. And this food Made in the USA is, contrary to popular belief, full of health benefits.
Peanut butter: a natural source of protein
We tend to forget it, but peanuts are rich in protein and can replace animal proteins such as meat or fish. Essential for cell function, tissue repair, muscle growth, and recovery, protein cannot be excluded from a balanced diet. Vegan people who do not consume any animal protein can find in peanut butter an interesting alternative. And because it can be cloying, you can add it in small quantities to the salad dressing, replace the butter with brown vegetables in a pan … But the most greedy will always prefer to simply spread it on wholemeal bread.
In addition, peanut butter is an important source of fiber which promotes digestion, absorption of nutrients, and gives the feeling of being full.
Peanut butter: a source of good fats
Even though peanut butter contains 50% fat, it is “good fat”. Indeed, it contains a majority of unsaturated and monosaturated fats, which are also found in olive oil for example. Benefits that can help fight bad cholesterol and boost energy. With this good fat, it is allowed to finish the peanut butter jar with a teaspoon (provided it is not half full), rather than the spread. If it contains only 30% lipids, the fats are saturated and it contains a lot of sugar, unlike peanut butter which does not contain any.
In addition, peanut butter is lower in calories than butter made from cow’s milk, spread on slices of wholemeal bread, it is an interesting source of fiber and minerals. With 640 calories per 100g, it is lower in calories than butter (730 calories) and oil (900 calories). In addition, it is rich in potassium, just like plain peanuts and bananas.
Peanut butter: how to choose it?
American brands often make butter from roasted and crushed peanuts (90%), to which they add sugar, hydrogenated palm oil, and salt. This hydrogenated oil is a source of transformed fatty acids, factors of cardiovascular diseases. A process that aims to make fat stable and which is prohibited in organic food.
Therefore, it is better to choose an organic labeled peanut butter whose recipe is guaranteed 100% peanuts with also sometimes a touch of salt. While they can sometimes contain palm oil, they will not be hydrogenated.
Is it good to eat peanuts?
Peanuts – often associated with aperitifs and alcohol consumption – are, like peanut butter, rich in good fats and have interesting sources of fiber and minerals. You still have to choose them! We prefer organic, without added salts or “roasted”, in short: as natural as possible, the best is to consume peanuts directly in their rind.
