Health Effects of Peanut Butter

Peanut butter is considered a healthy food if you are not allergic to it.

Kids and adults have been eating peanut butter for many years, and it is one of the favorite foods of many people. According to the National Peanut Board, the peanut is full of B vitamins, especially niacin, a vitamin that aids in the conversion of food to energy.

Peanuts are also a good source of folate, a nutrient that has been found to be important during pregnancy and youth when tissues are developing at a fast rate. Another benefit is that peanuts are high in vitamin E, an antioxidant that helps protect the cells in the body from oxidative stress.

Peanuts have "good" fats and are low in calories

One serving of peanut butter contains 14g of fat. Many people who are watching their weight avoid peanut butter because they believe that it will cause them to gain weight. The types of fat in peanut butter are monounsaturated fat and polyunsaturated fat, which are necessary to have in the diet. Like any other food, peanut butter will only cause weight gain if you eat too much of it.

Peanuts and peanut butter meet many of the major recommendations of the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. This food is high in protein and can be a substitute for red meat or other foods high in unhealthy fats. Peanuts have more than 30 vitamins and minerals. A two-tablespoon serving has only 190 calories, and you get a lot of nutrition for so few calories.

Dietitians and nutritionists agree that a variety of foods are best for good health. People allergic to peanuts can be healthy by choosing other foods that are high in nutrients. Since there is no peanut allergy cure, they need to avoid this food that can have extremely negative effects on their health and well-being.

Peanut allergy or intolerance?

Some people have a peanut intolerance, which will not cause the life-threatening reaction anaphylaxis that can happen with a peanut allergy. Instead, they may develop heartburn or indigestion after eating a peanut butter sandwich or other food containing peanuts.

Symptoms will be milder and may not develop for hours after eating this food. The main difference in having a real peanut allergy versus a peanut intolerance, according to the Mayo Clinic, is that the immune system is not involved when you are merely intolerant to peanuts. An allergy blood test or skin test can determine if you have an intolerance or allergy to peanuts.

Peanut allergies tend to run in families, so your chances of having this allergy are increased if another relative has it. Your allergist may want to complete a skin test or blood test to determine if you have other food allergies. If so, you can safeguard your health by avoiding peanuts, peanut butter and all other foods to which you are allergic.