Delicious and nutritious, peanut butter has many benefits on the body. It plays an important role in preventing Alzheimer’s disease and cardiovascular diseases.
A good source of potassium:
A diet high in salt is associated with increased blood pressure, stroke and other diseases. However, a diet rich in potassium may reduce the risk of suffering from heart disease and can also improve health.
In a medical study, was proven that people who consume 4.7 grams of potassium per day have some of the same benefits as if they would consume less than 4 grams of salt. However, 4.7 grams of potassium obtained by eating peanut butter could harm the body, so you must use it in combination with bananas to get some potassium intake too.
It is fighting “bad” cholesterol:
Although peanut butter contains saturated fat and salt, this does not mean that should be excluded from your diet. Nutritionist experts say that two tablespoons of peanut butter contain 3.3 grams of saturated fat and 12.3 grams of monounsaturated fat, which is very beneficial for our health.
In moderate amounts, saturated fats are not bad for the body. However, consumed in excess, saturated fat can lead to clogging arteries, which implies an increased risk of developing heart disease. On the other hand, monounsaturated fat lowers bad cholesterol (LDL), thereby preventing the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases.
It maintains satiety in the evening:
Peanut butter maintains a sense of satiety for a long time, so you are likely to eat fewer calories. Furthermore, peanut butter is a quality source of nutrients, because in addition to potassium and monounsaturated fats, it contains proteins, fiber, folic acid, magnesium, vitamin E and resveratrol, and an antioxidant found in red wine.
It sharpens your mind:
Two tablespoons of peanut butter contain 4.3 milligrams of niacin (vitamin B3), an important nutrient which protects the brain against a cognitive decline. Following a study, scientists have found that people who consumed 22 milligrams of niacin a day had a 70% lower risk of Alzheimer’s, unlike those who consumed only 13 milligrams.