During the fitness frenzy of the nineties, people started to watch what they ate in order to stay healthy. Since that time, people have been in search of quick and healthy snacks. People looked over some of their favorite snacks in pursuit of healthy snack. After a long and exhausting crusade, it has been concluded that peanut butter is a very nutritious snack.

Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are among America’s favorite snacks. They are easy to make. All you have to do is butter one slice of bread and jelly another. Could a healthy snack be any easier?

Peanut butter has many health advantages. It is made of peanuts. Peanuts fall into the meats and eggs section of the food pyramid. Like meats and eggs, peanuts contain protein. Protein is a vital nutrient source for the body. Protein is used in the body to generate new cells and to regenerate old cells. Antibodies are created by protein. Antibodies fight disease and infection (Peanut Butter).

Also contained in peanut butter is folic acid. Folic Acid is critical to the development of a fetus. During the first few weeks of pregnancy, intake of Folic Acid is vital. Folic Acid aids in correctly forming the neural tube. Neural tube formation can be prevented by a chance of 70% with a correct amount of intake of Folic Acid. Folic Acid is also believed to prevent heart disease. Homocysteine is removed by Folic Acid. Homocysteine is an amino acid that could cause damage to the heart and arteries (Peanut Butter).

A study conducted by Dr. Alper and Dr. Mattes of Purdue University suggest that normal intake of peanut butter lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease (p133). This is due in part by a high concentration of unsaturated fat. Unsaturated fat is good for the body because it lowers cholesterol. Peanut butter does not have any cholesterol naturally (Peanut Butter). Another study by Kris-Etherton at Pennsylvania State University concluded that monounsaturated fat does in fact lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. The study compared 3 diets: the diet of average Americans (34% fat), the diet of the American Heart Association (25% fat), and the diet with a lot of monounsaturated fat (34%-36% fat). Even though the diet with a lot of monounsaturated fat had the most fat, it lowered the risk of cardiovascular disease by 20.6%. The American Heart Association’s diet only lowered the risk of cardiovascular disease by 12% (p1009).

Breast cancer is also believed to be prevented by monounsaturated fat. Dr. Wolk of the Karolinska Institute concluded that the breast cancer risks were reduced by 45% (Peanut Butter).

Assorted varieties of chocolates contain peanut butter. Chocolate isn’t the best snack for you; however, if eaten sparsely in combination with peanut butter, it can be quite soothing. A good example of such a sweet is a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup. It has the rich chocolate taste with a with a pleasurable treat of peanut butter.

Peanut Butter provides good portions of the daily vitamins needed in the body. A peanut butter and jelly sandwich is both rich in nutrition and quick to assemble. Combined with other foods, like chocolate, it can be quite intriguing. There are many nutritional benefits to eating peanut butter.

Alper, Corinna M. and Richard D. Mattes. “Peanuts Consumption Improves Indices of Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Healthy Adults.” Journal of the American College of Nutrition 22 (2003): 133-141.

Kris-Etherton, P. M. “High-monounsaturated fatty acid diets lower both plasma cholesterol and triacyglyerol concentrations.” American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 70 (1999): 1009-1015.

Peanut Butter Lovers.com. 9 Oct. 2003 http://www.peanutbutterlovers.com.