Peanut Butter

When I was a kid, my mum would always scold me for eating the peanut butter with a spoon directly from the jar. She just couldn't afford to keep buying them every other day. Hehehe..I looooved peanut butter. Then as I grew older, I kinda stopped eating peanut butter mainly because I thought its fattening; butter makes you fat. And that it will cause major acne.

15 years later, when I started actively going to gym, I saw a few people eat peanut butter right off the jar! Just like I did when I was a kid. OMG! I thought "that's a fitness sin!" Then I was told that peanut butter is actually quite the opposite. Oh really?

As usual, I made use of my trusted iPhone and Google-d it. And so its true that peanut butter is really good for you. Especially if you have an active lifestyle and workout regularly. Yay!! So that made me run to the store and buy a jar of peanut butter all for myself (without having mum scolding me anymore).

As I sat in front of my laptop while enjoying my once favorite snack I went online and start reading more on the benefits of peanut butter. Here's the breakdown:

PROTEIN
Peanut butter is a good source of protein. Our body uses amino acids found in protein to build and repair muscle tissue. Protein also makes you feel fuller for a longer period of time. (Hmmm..no wonder protein shakes were created).

HEALTHY FATS
Hmmm....I guess its is true that peanut butter contains a lot of fats. But I missed out one important info. That it contains unsaturated fats, which is the good fats. The poly- and monounsaturated fats in it can lower our risk of developing heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Yay! More good news!

POTASSIUM
Excess sodium in our diet puts stress to our cardiovascular system. Potassium can counter the negative effects of sodium. Since our average food intake contains more than enough sodium our body needs, so knowing this helps. Try to choose peanut butter brands that have unsalted varieties which is even more heart-healthy.

FIBER
A 2-tablespoon serving of peanut butter contains about 2 grams of dietetic fiber. Fiber helps regulate our digestive system by promoting healthy bowel movement, and like protein, fiber keeps your hunger at bay between meals. Good to know for people who wants to shed some weight, no?

However, as much as its great to know that my favorite childhood snack has a lot of benefits, it beats the purpose if we stuff our face with a whole jar of peanut butter in one go. There are some health issues if we eat too much. So it all boils down to MODERATION. 2-tablespoon per serving is good enough.

I better stop eating this for now. My 2-tablespoon limit is over. Lets see if there is a difference in my workout later. Ciao!