IS PEANUT BUTTER GOOD FOR YOU?
Okay, as peanut butter makers you might think we’re a little biased (yep it’s true, we are). But here’s the thing - with the rise of nut butters, we get asked this question - is peanut butter good for you? So, we thought we’d school everyone on the health benefits of everyone’s favourite spread.
Here’s your first fun fact: peanuts have provided sustenance to adventurers all over the world for centuries. We’re talking around 1500 BC when the ancient Incas of South America first ground peanuts to make a version of the peanut butter you know and love. But this isn’t a history lesson. Let’s take a look at all the good stuff you’re getting out of your peanut butter, er, your Fix & Fogg peanut butter that is.
THE ANSWER IS YES: PEANUT BUTTER IS ACTUALLY GOOD FOR YOU
First things first: peanut butter is delicious. Whether you’re eating it on a piece of wholegrain toast, or you’re sneaking it straight from the jar, you know it’s moreishly palate-pleasing. What is it that makes it so good? The fat, my friends, and it’s a healthy fat too. And that’s where things start to get complicated. Unfortunately, as consumers we’re often told that fat is bad for us, so peanut butter’s health benefits are often misunderstood.
Yes, peanut butter is high in fat, but in our PB these are primarily "good" fats, or, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. One serving of Fix & Fogg peanut butter has 8 grams of monounsaturated fats and 4 grams of polyunsaturated fats. These "good" fats help lower your cholesterol, reduce heart disease, and lower blood pressure. While there are saturated fats in there too, they help with the production of crucial hormones and vitamins such as testosterone and vitamin D. In addition those sweet, sweet fats, PB is packed with protein making it tasty snack that keeps you feeling full for longer. Peanuts can even increase your metabolic furnace, helping you burn fat throughout the day. Boom. Peanuts are rad.
PEANUT BUTTER IS A STRESS BUSTER
It gets better. Peanut butter is high in magnesium which is an essential mineral that powers more than 300 biochemical reactions in your body. You get about 16% of your RDA in one serving. So, what does magnesium do? It helps with body-temperature regulation, natural detoxification, energy production, maintain strong bones and teeth, and keeps your nervous system humming. PB also contains Manganese, magnesium’s lesser known cousin, that’s also for energy metabolism and bone formation. One tbsp serving of our peanut butter will give you 11% of your RDI of manganese. Do we have to mention the other great things in a jar of Fix & Fogg PB? Fiiiiiine. How about some phosphorus, zinc, iron, copper, and beta-sitosterol?
WAIT, WHAT?
Peanut butter contains beta-sitosterol, a plant sterol that has shown to normalise high cortisol levels and bring them back into balance with other hormones during times of stress. Beta-sitosterol also helps improve immunity. Above is a handy little pie-chart of all the nutrients that a cheeky tablespoon of Fix & Fogg PB will give you.
CHOOSE YOUR PEANUT BUTTER WISELY
In a perfect world, you’d only eat Fix & Fogg peanut butter. Lol. But seriously, the best peanut butter in the world should only have golden roasted peanuts and a small touch of sea salt. That’s it. Not all nut spreads are created equally...
Fix & Fogg peanut butter is simple and healthy: we use extra dark roasted hi-oleic peanuts and a sparing amount of organic Marlborough sea salt. Hi-oleic peanuts are a special type of peanut known for their great flavour and - importantly - high levels (39%) of monounsaturated fats ... that's the good stuff we mentioned before. And all those lovely ingredients in our flavoured varieties of peanut butter? They’re ethically and locally sourced wherever possible. Our entire Fix & Fogg range is vegan friendly, and palm oil free as certified by the Orangutan Alliance.
What next? Surely, you must be feeling snacky after all this peanut talk. Head on over to the shop and snag a jar or for some more peanut butter reading click here to find out exactly what we think makes a gourmet peanut butter. If you liked the post, be sure to share and comment. How do you like to eat your F&F PB? How does your body feel after? We want to hear.
