Whether crunchy or smooth, on a slice of toast for breakfast or in a wrap with chicken and veggies, added to a spicy Thai peanut dressing or smothered on graham crackers with marshmallows, there are so many ways peanut butter can be used to spice up your menu. The reasons why you might want to serve some delicious peanut butter recipes are just as varied as the application. Peanut butter is:
- • Full of good fat: Eighty-five per cent of the fat in peanuts is the ‘good’ unsaturated fat. Unsaturated fats are important in heart health as they help lower blood cholesterol levels. A serving of the vast majority of peanut butters available in Canada are trans fat- and cholesterol-free.
- • Vegan and gluten-free: Whether you are purchasing an all-natural peanut butter, which typically only includes crushed peanuts and a hint of salt, or a commercial brand, all peanut butter products are vegan-friendly.
- • Abundant with essential vitamins: A serving of peanut butter contains 51 mg of magnesium, which is about 17 per cent of the recommended daily magnesium requirement for males and 20 percent of the recommended daily requirement for females. Magnesium helps carry calcium and potassium across cell membranes, which ultimately assists with nerve impulse conduction, muscle contraction and normal heart rhythm.
- • Counteractive against sodium: Peanut butter is chock full of potassium with 217 mg in a serving. Potassium is a mineral that relaxes blood vessels and helps lower blood pressure. It also helps release sodium through urine.
- • Antioxidant-rich: Peanut butter contains phenolic acids, which possess an antioxidant function that helps protect the body against various cancers and coronary heart disease.
Source: Huffington Post, Health Canada