[Marinir] [Nasional] Peanut Butter Packs a Healthy Punch

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Date:  Tue Jan 4, 2005  3:02 pm ; Msg # 6379
Subject:  Peanut Butter Packs a Healthy Punch

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Peanut Butter Packs a Healthy Punch

Peanut Butter, Nuts Contain Vitamins That Many American Diets Lack
By Kelli Miller Stacy

WebMD Medical News Reviewed By Michael Smith, MD
on Wednesday, December 15, 2004


Dec. 15, 2004 -- Eating two spoonfuls of peanut butter straight from the jar
may seem like a guilty pleasure, but new research shows it could be a
healthy habit.
Researchers from Pennsylvania State University found that men, women, and
children who ate a daily dose of peanuts or peanut butter were better able
to meet the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for vitamins and nutrients
than those who steered clear.
A single serving of peanut butter is equal to two tablespoons. One ounce of
nuts equals one serving.
Including peanuts and peanut butter daily in a calorie-balanced diet can
help meet nutrient goals set by the U.S. government, nutritionist and study
researcher Penny Kris-Etherton, PhD, RD, says in a news release. The study
was funded in part by The Peanut Institute.
The findings are published in the December issue of the Journal of American
College of Nutrition.
Specifically, the diets of peanut and peanut butter eaters were higher in
vitamins A and E, folic acid, calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, and fiber.
Nuts are also loaded with monounsaturated fats, which have been linked to
lower cholesterol.
In recent years peanut butter and nuts have been shown to be part of a
healthy diet. A Harvard study in 2002 showed that women who regularly ate
peanut butter and nuts had a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes. And the more
they ate, the lower their risk was. And in July 2003 the FDA approved a
qualified health claim for almonds, hazelnuts, pecans, pistachios, walnuts,
and peanuts for use in advertising and package labels.
Packages of nut products that meet the FDA's requirement can now carry the
following claim:
"Scientific evidence suggests but does not prove that eating 1.5 ounces per
day of most nuts, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol,
may reduce the risk of heart disease." An ounce and a half serving of nuts
is about a third of a cup or a small handful.
In this new study, the researchers found that men and children who regularly
ate nuts had lower cholesterol. There was no significant effect in women.
But peanuts and peanut butter are high in fat, so there's a concern that
eating too much could make a person gain weight.
The researchers found that calorie intake was indeed higher in people who
regularly ate nuts. However, BMI -- an indicator of body fat -- was actually
lower in nut eaters.
If you are allergic to peanuts, you do not have to eat peanut butter to get
essential vitamins and nutrients. There are other ways to increase your
intake of vitamins and minerals, such as eating more fruits and vegetables.
Want to learn more about the healthy effects of nuts and peanut butter?
Check out what Kathleen Zelman, MPH, RD, director of nutrition for the WebMD
Weight Loss Clinic has to say.



SOURCES: Griel, AE. Journal of the American College of Nutrition; vol 23: pp
1-9. News Release, The Peanut Institute.