Does the presence of saturated fats and hydrogenated oil in peanut butter makes it worthy of consumption? The following article answers this question to leave no room for doubt.
When peanuts are good sources of essential nutrients, how can peanut butter be bad for health. Stuffing it in sandwiches makes it a high energy snack and eating it can keep hunger pangs away for long hours. No wonder, it is considered to be one of the best energy-dense foods. Some of its benefits are given below:
Promotes a Healthy Heart
Over 80% of fat content in this butter is made up of unsaturated fats. As we all know, unsaturated fats are healthy fats that play a significant role in lowering bad cholesterol, thereby decreasing the chances of coronary heart diseases.
Maintains Skin Health
Peanut butter being a good source of omega-3 essentially fatty acids and vitamin B12, help to improve skin health. It also contains riboflavin (vitamin B2), deficiency of which can make the skin dry and scaly, especially at the corners of the mouth. Vitamin B2 supplements are often used to get rid of skin problems like pustules, skin rash, and rosacea. As this butter is a good source of both vitamin B12 and B2, its addition in the diet can certainly help to keep the skin healthy and glowing.
Promotes Healthy Hair
As aforementioned, this energy-dense product also contains substantial amount of vitamin B2, which is known to promote hair growth. Inadequate intake of vitamin B2 has also been associated with excessive hair loss. All these issues can be addressed by including vitamin B2-rich foods in the diet.
Contributes in Strengthening Bones
Apart from notable vitamin content, this energy-dense food also contains essential minerals like calcium and magnesium. These nutrients are considered to be crucial role for proper development of bones. Thus, including this butter in your diet can go a long way in maintaining bone health.
Prevent Birth Defects
Another important nutrient found in this energy-dense food is folic acid. Folic acid, especially during pregnancy is very important so as to deliver a healthy baby. This is because deficiency in folic acid in the early stages of pregnancy increases the risk of birth defects in the unborn baby. Therefore eating this butter during pregnancy can decrease the chances of birth defects and promote healthy delivery.
Moderation is the Key
Peanut butter does contain saturated fats but it is present in small amounts. So, one really does not have to worry about saturated fats in this butter, as long as it is eaten in moderation.
Hydrogenated oil that contains trans fat has also been added in this butter, however, the amount added is negligible. So, the total trans fat content in this butter is also insignificant. In case, you are concerned about hydrogenated oil present in this butter, there are quite a few brands selling this butter devoid of trans fat. It is referred to as unrefined, natural or fat-free peanut butter and considered to be a better option healthwise.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is solely for educating the reader. It is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a nutrition expert.
