Is Peanut Butter Good For Cholesterol?

Most of us find it difficult to control the cholesterol levels in our bodies and have only a vague knowledge of the food items that should be included and the ones to be excluded. Studies have found that creamy delicacies such as peanut butter control cholesterol and maintain overall health.

In this article, let us look at how peanut butter is good for health and how it curbs cholesterol.

Peanut Butter And Cholesterol – All You Need To Know!

Cholesterol is caused by food items with high-fat content. This doesn’t mean that consuming such foods will lead to cholesterol as such. Animal products containing high fat are a source of cholesterol. Other fats are thus not harmful to health.

Fortunately, peanut butter is a plant-based creamy delicacy that contains high amounts of unsaturated fat. Peanut butter also contains essential vitamins, fibers, minerals, and other nutrients. It contains only a small percentage of saturated fat. Saturated fat is the one that leads to a rise in LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol or bad cholesterol. 

As peanut butter is rich in unsaturated fat, it doesn’t cause any harm to the body. Instead, they help in reducing LDL cholesterol and maintaining a healthy heart. Numerous studies have indicated that people who consume nuts or peanut butter daily are less likely to acquire heart disease or type 2 diabetes than persons who eat nuts seldom. 

The science behind this is that nuts are rich in minerals, vitamins, fiber, protein, and antioxidants. Nut butter, such as peanut butter, is high in nutrients and low in cholesterol, making them healthy for your heart. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends consuming around 2 tablespoons of peanut butter daily. 

Health Benefits

Including the recommended amount of peanut butter in your diet can provide the following benefits:

• Important nutrients and minerals

As stated above, peanut butter contains essential vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients for the proper functioning of the body. It is a rich source of vitamin E, niacin, vitamin B6, dietary fiber, folate, pantothenic acid, and minerals such as phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, copper, zinc,  and sodium.

• Protein

Peanut butter is high in protein and can be helpful for vegans and vegetarians trying to include more protein in their diet. There are about 8 gms of protein in a 2-tablespoon serving of peanut butter.

• Maintaining healthy heart

Peanut butter may help lower LDL cholesterol levels due to its high unsaturated fat content. Having proper levels of LDL promotes a healthy heart and prevents heart diseases. 

• Balance blood sugar level

Studies suggest that peanut butter helps maintain a blood glucose level which is essential for your health and also in preventing illnesses. 

Conclusion

The takeaway from this article is that peanut butter is a good option to maintain healthy cholesterol levels in your body. It contains unsaturated fat, minerals, vitamins, and other necessary nutrients.

The unsaturated fat content controls LDL cholesterol and provides other health benefits as well. So, if your diet doesn’t include peanut butter, make sure to have it from today.