The Nutritional Efficiency Of Peanut Butter

Peanut butter is a popular sandwich spread and ingredient to several dishes. Peanut butter was first produced in the 1800s and is generally considered a healthy food, says Peanut Butter. Peanut butter is produced with few additives, making this spread a natural and nutritious snack. The popular American peanut butter company, Jif, provides many nutrients, vitamins and minerals to help you achieve your daily nutrition goals.

Ingredients

Peanut butter is generally produced by roasting peanuts, placing them in a blanching machine, grinding them and then mixing them with several flavoring ingredients, oils and preservatives. In addition to roasted peanuts, Jif Creamy Peanut Butter is made with molasses, vegetable oil, fats and salt. About 80 percent of the fats added to peanut butter are unsaturated, or the good fat, according to Peanut Butter.

Total Calories

A serving size of Jif Creamy Peanut Butter is 2 Tbsp, or 32 g, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Each serving of Jif Creamy Peanut Butter contains 190 calories. Nutrition labels are set based on a standard 2,000-calorie diet, though your exact caloric needs may vary. You can determine your daily caloric needs using an online calorie calculator, which takes into account your age, weight, sex and level of activity.

Macronutrients

Protein, fat and carbohydrates are macronutrients, or nutrients that must be consumed in large quantities to regulate several bodily functions. About 10 to 35 percent of your diet should come from protein, 20 to 35 percent from fat and 45 to 65 percent from carbohydrates, according to MayoClinic.com. Jif Creamy Peanut Butter provides 7 g of protein, 16 g of fat and 7 g of carbohydrates. There is no daily recommended value for protein intake, but Jif Creamy Peanut Butter accounts for 25 percent the daily value for fat and 2 percent for carbohydrates.

Vitamins and Minerals

The body is incapable of producing vitamins and minerals on its own, so a variety of foods are needed to ensure proper vitamin and mineral intake. Jif peanut butter helps you achieve many of your vitamin and mineral needs. Each serving of Jif Creamy Peanut Butter contains 20 percent the daily recommended value for niacin and 15 percent that of vitamin E. Jif Creamy Peanut Butter is also high in iron and riboflavin.

Other Nutritional Facts

A diet high in cholesterol is associated with cardiovascular disease, according to the American College of Sports Medicine, and individuals should monitor their cholesterol intake. However, a certain amount of cholesterol is still needed in the diet for hormone regulation and other bodily functions. While high in fat, Jif Creamy Peanut Butter is cholesterol free. Furthermore, Jif Creamy Peanut Butter is low in sodium, which is associated with high blood pressure. Each serving contains 130 mg, just 5 percent of the daily recommended value.