Celebrating the Tasty Benefits of Peanut Butter

Who loves peanut butter? We love peanut butter! Especially people living in the United States. According to an estimate by Kansas State University, the amount of peanut butter consumed by the U.S. in one year is enough to spread across the floor of the Grand Canyon.

If you weren’t already aware, November is National Peanut Butter Lover’s Month. Peanut butter was probably a lunchbox staple during your early school years, but that doesn’t mean your days of enjoying this creamy, salty-sweet goodness are over. Not only does peanut butter satisfy your taste buds, it is packed with health benefits, some of which might surprise you.

While peanut butter is higher in calories (averaging 180-210 calories per two tablespoon serving), it contains a substantial amount of protein. Peanuts have more protein in them than any other nut, which will, in turn, keep you feeling full longer. Peanut butter also contains vitamin E, potassium, magnesium and a great amount of monounsaturated fat, which is beneficial for the heart.

You have probably noticed how many brands and types of peanut are available at your local grocery store. From commercial to all-natural, which one should you have in your pantry?

Brands slightly differ when it comes to fat and calorie counts, but most variations of peanut butter are similar. The natural brands contain about half as much sugar as the major commercial brands, and they also get rid of the need to mix together the oil and peanut paste. The more sodium that peanut butter contains, the more it masks the peanut flavor, which is important to note if you’re watching your sodium intake. No matter what, make sure you are sticking to the suggested serving of two tablespoons so you don’t get an overload of carbohydrates and calories.

If you are looking for some ways to incorporate peanut butter into your diet, we have a few suggestions. First, sandwiches are an obvious choice, as we’ve all probably enjoyed a peanut butter (and, maybe jelly) sandwich a time or two in our lives. Second, try adding a few tablespoons of peanut butter to a smoothie, as this is a great way to increase your protein intake. Lastly, snacking on vegetables with peanut butter rather than store-bought veggie dips is an all-around better choice.

With all of these benefits, it’s not a shock that peanut butter is a household staple, and with its delicious flavor, we can’t see our intake slowing down anytime soon.