Rich in calories, fat…? Let’s remember that a calorie is not always a calorie…

Here’s a few reasons why peanut butter is a worthy ingredient, even though it’s high in calories.

– fats in peanut butter are mostly monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, which makes for a product that has a beneficial effect on cardiovascular system. Unhealthy saturated fatty acids make up for just a little percent here,

– a protein source- 2 table spoons contain about 7g of protein, which is essential for building up and repairing the muscle tissue- something that is particularly important for those physically active. Protein also makes us fill fuller for longer,

– it’s a source of dietary fibre, which helps regulate cholesterol levels in blood (lowers the LDL cholesterol), helps bowels movements, regulates blood glucose level,

– peanut butter (as long as it doesn’t contain added sugars) has a very low glycemic index, which makes it a perfect snack for people trying to lose weight,

– it’s a perfect source of potassium, essential for the proper work of muscles and heart and water- electrolyte balance regulation. Potassium plays an important role in reducing hypertension. Choosing your peanut butter, make sure it doesn’t have any salt added!

– because of its high calorie content, it’s a wonderful product for nutritious breakfast, or second breakfast, providing you energy for all sorts of activities. It’s a perfect solution for sportsmen whose caloric requirements are very high, often hard to meet with regular diet,

– peanut butter contains a lot of other, valuable nutrients, such as: magnesium, calcium, zinc, vitamin E, vitamin B6- it all contributes to healthy muscles, bones and immune system,

– just like red wine, it contains resveratrol- a very strong antioxidant with cardio protective properties. It also helps boosting immune system and slowing down the aging of the cells. Resveratrol takes part in regulation of energy balance, which helps protect from obesity and its pathological consequences,

Peanut butter is a very nutritious, guilt-free ingredient. On top of all its nutritional properties, it’s just super tasty and easy to use in many different ways. We can add it to all-bran pancakes, use it as a sandwich spread, mix it in with oatmeal, or even add some to soups and sauces.

Keeping all this in mind, we strongly recommend adding peanut butter to your diets! An optimal intake for a healthy grown up is two table spoons a day 😉

*For all those of you who are allergic to peanuts- there also other spreads, very similar to peanut butter, but made of almonds, walnuts, chasews, macadamia nuts and others! They are not exactly the same regarding their nutrients content, but they are all good and healthy! Just find the right one for you and enjoy!