Health Benefits Of Organic Peanut Butter

Health Benefits of Organic Peanut Butter

Feb 19, 2011 | By Kathryn Flynn, MPH

Organic peanut butter is a satisfying comfort food that has many health benefits when eaten in moderation. It is a healthier option than conventional peanut butter because it does not contain partially hydrogenated oils or trans fats, and the peanuts are not covered in pesticides.

Basic Nutrition Facts

One 2 tbsp. serving of peanut butter has 200 calories and 16 g of fat. Only 3 g of the fat comes from saturated fat, and the remainder comes from heart-healthy unsaturated fat sources. Unsaturated fat lowers your risk for heart disease by reducing your total cholesterol, lowering your bad cholesterol, LDL, and raising your good cholesterol, HDL. One serving also has 7 g of easily digested plant-based protein, which contributes to muscle tissue repair and growth.

No Trans Fats

Organic peanut butter is not made with partially hydrogenated oils. These inexpensive, man-made oils have hydrogen added to them to give the products they are in a longer shelf life. Hydrogenated oils are classified as trans fats. This type of fat raises your bad cholesterol, lowers your good cholesterol, and puts you at a higher risk for having a stroke, type 2 diabetes and heart disease. By choosing organic peanut butter, you can avoid these unhealthy fats.

Pesticide Free

Conventionally grown peanuts are covered in pesticides. Because they have a thin skin and lack a hard shell, they absorb a lot of the pesticides. The pesticides used on conventional peanuts are known carcinogens, or cancer-causing agents, hormone disruptors and neurotoxins, and they cause developmental and reproductive problems. Eating organic peanut butter is a healthier, less toxic choice.

Vitamin E

One serving of organic peanut butter has 15 percent of the recommended daily intake for vitamin E. This fat-soluble vitamin acts as an antioxidant, fighting the cancer-causing free radicals in your body. Vitamin E helps lower your likelihood for getting cancer and other chronic diseases.