For more information, contact local USDA Service Centers or FSA county offices. A new study shows that snacking on peanuts and peanut butter is an effective way to control hunger without leading to weight gain. Subjects who snacked on peanuts and peanut butter self-adjusted their caloric intake spontaneously and did not add extra calories to their daily diets. Following a snack of peanuts or peanut butter, the participants hunger was reduced for two and a half-hours. Furthermore, there was a positive change in the mix of fat in subjects' daily diets when they consumed peanuts and peanut butter.
Small changes can equal big rewards.
Substitute monounsaturated fats for saturated fats by using peanut butter on your bagel instead of butter or cream cheese, dipping vegetables and fruit in melted peanut butter instead of cream-based dressings, or sprinkling toasted peanuts on salads instead of croutons. SIT may offer protection from colon, prostate and breast cancer, all of which tend to occur at higher rates in Americans than in other populations. This exciting new research was recently published in the journal Nutrition and Cancer. In addition to a significant amount of phytosterols and heart healthy monounsaturated fat, peanuts and peanut butter also contain vitamin E, folate, potassium, magnesium, zinc, and fiber, all of which are thought to benefit health. The Peanut Institute is a non-profit organization that supports nutrition research and develops educational programs to encourage healthful lifestyles.