Facts About Peanut Butter

People have been eating peanut butter for thousands of years

Peanut butter became popular in the United States in the 1890s when it was ground up by a physician who was looking for ways for his elderly patients to have a source of protein. Peanut butter was sold at the St. Louis Universal Exposition in 1904 and became popular across America after that.

Peanuts were known to grow in South America in 950 B.C.

Long before Americans began to enjoy peanut butter, it was eaten in South America about 3,000 years ago. Around this time, it was also consumed in China and Africa where it was often ground up and added to stews and other dishes.

Peanuts need a warm climate to grow

Most of the peanuts grown in the U.S. are grown in the states of Georgia, Texas, Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina. About half of the peanuts grown in the world are grown in the warm climates of India and China. Europe consumes more peanuts than any other continent, but they cannot grow peanuts in their climate.

Some facts from the National Peanut Board

A 12-ounce jar of peanut butter requires around 540 peanuts, and an acre of peanuts can make 30,000 peanut butter sandwiches. This makes this food very economical. About 90 percent of all households eat peanut butter, and the average American eats more than six pounds of the spread. Peanut butter is good for the economy of the U.S. since peanuts contribute over $4 billion to it every year.

Nutritional facts about peanuts and peanut butter

There are many great nutritional properties of peanuts. They have more protein, niacin, folate, and phytosterols than any other nut. Also their antioxidant content is more than grapes, green tea, tomatoes, spinach, broccoli, carrots, and others. The peanut also contains more than 30 essential nutrients, and they are cholesterol-free.

All of the nutritional properties are great unless you are allergic to peanuts

For those who are allergic to peanuts or peanut products like peanut butter, none of these facts really matter because they are not able to eat this food. About 3 million people report that they have a peanut allergy or an allergy to tree nuts. According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI, the most common food allergy among child is to peanuts.

Peanut allergies can be serious and life threatening

According to the Asthma and allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), the most common peanut allergy symptoms are eczema, hives, asthma, or anaphylactic shock. Digestive symptoms may also be a result of eating peanut products if a person has an allergy to them.

Peanut butter substitutes are nutritious and taste great

Just because a person has a peanut allergy does not mean that they have to risk having a life threatening episode of anaphylaxis. There are peanut butter substitutes that are made with sunflower seeds that taste much like peanut butter. This food can be used in most of the common ways that peanut butter is used.