Peanut butter is healthy!

1. Although most people think that peanut butter is a purely Dutch affair, the peanut butter is based in the United States and is eaten all over the world. You can find peanut butter in the United States, Canada, Turkey, England and of course the Netherlands. Originally a by-product of peanut oil production, it later evolved into an unprecedented success.

1. I was recently in Luxembourg and to my surprise I saw our well-known peanut butter on the shelves. However, not every peanut butter is equally healthy!

1. In this article you will learn everything you need to know about peanut butter, so read on!

Peanuts in general

1. The peanut, in general, is a popular snack with a drink. It is also the raw material for peanut butter and satay sauce, among other things. But did you know that the peanut has many names? Groundnut, groundnut, monkey nut, oil nut are all names for the same nut. But in fact, the peanut is not a nut at all. At least if we look at it from the botanical angle. The peanut is a legume.

1. Peanuts have a very special habit: The flower forms above the ground, from which the pod develops. This pod contains 2 peanuts. Then something very special happens: The stem with the pod suddenly becomes much longer, and makes its way into the ground. Under soil, the pod's ripening process continues and, if not harvested beforehand, it will germinate and a new peanut plant will emerge.

2. Peanuts have a very special growth habit: The flower forms above the ground, from which the pod develops. This pod contains 2 peanuts. Then something very special happens: The stem with the pod suddenly becomes much longer, and makes its way into the ground. Under soil, the pod continues to ripen and, if not pre-harvested, it will germinate and a new peanut plant will emerge.

And then the peanut butter

1. Peanut butter originates in the United States. There it was developed in 1893 by Dr. John Harvey Kellogg, as a result of the surplus of peanuts in that period. Indeed, this gentleman did something with cornflakes a few years later! John Kellogg was an incorrigible vegetarian, which may explain his diligent search for alternatives, resulting in the â € inventionâ € ™ of Peanut Butter and the famous Kelloggâ € ™ s Cornflakes.

1. The name given to peanut butter at the time: Peanut Butter. Huh? So why is it called cheese in the Netherlands? The Netherlands is the only one in this, because in France the same Peanut Butter is called: Beurre de Cacahuètes, a literal translation.

2. The name given to peanut butter at the time: Peanut Butter. Huh? So why is it called cheese in the Netherlands? The Netherlands is the only one, because in France the same Peanut Butter is called: Beurre de Cacahuètes, a literal translation.

1. But in the Netherlands the use of the word â € ˜butterâ € ™ in the food industry is well protected. It must then be made from real butter, otherwise it cannot be called â € butterâ € ™. Since Peanut Butter has nothing to do with butter at all, the name peanut butter was chosen.

2. But in the Netherlands the use of the word â € ˜butterâ € ™ in the food industry is well protected. It must be made from real butter, otherwise it cannot be called â € butterâ € ™. Since Peanut Butter has nothing to do with butter, the name peanut butter was chosen.

1. In the United States there are legal regulations for Peanut Butter. It must contain at least 80% peanuts, and artificial sweeteners, preservatives and coloring are out of the question. Unfortunately, these rules do not apply in the Netherlands. So you have to read the labels carefully if you want to make a healthy choice!

Calvà ©? Own brand? B brand?

1. Calvà © is the brand name that has almost completely become generic for this delicacy. When you think of peanut butter, you think of Calvà ©, thanks to several very successful advertising campaigns. The youngsters will not know this anymore, but in the eighties the television commercial of Calvà © was extremely popular: Petje Pitamientje

2. Calvà © is the brand name that has almost completely become generic for this delicacy. When you think of peanut butter, you think of Calvà ©, thanks to several very successful advertising campaigns. The youngsters will no longer know this, but in the eighties the television commercial of Calvà © was extremely popular: Petje Pitamientje

1. Very strong marketing, and one of the most successful advertising campaigns at the time.

1. The consumer association and the Kassa program! In recent years has conducted various studies into the quality of the different peanut butter types. This showed that the best peanut butter is still made by Calvà ©. Incidentally, these studies do not include the biological form of peanut butter.

2. The consumer association and the Kassa! In recent years has conducted various studies into the quality of the different peanut butter types. This showed that the best peanut butter is still made by Calvà ©. Incidentally, these studies do not include the biological form of peanut butter.

1. Calvà © excels in the fact that the most unhealthy additives are excluded. Calvà © was the front runner in removing the unhealthy trans fats in particular. But if you look at a label on any jar of peanut butter, you immediately notice that it contains a certain percentage of peanuts. Logical, but what does the rest consist of? In many cases this turns out to be pure (cheaper) filling.

2. Calvà © excels in the fact that the most unhealthy additives are banned. Calvà © was the front runner in the removal of unhealthy trans fats in particular. But if you look at a label on any jar of peanut butter, you immediately notice that it contains a certain percentage of peanuts. Logical, but what does the rest consist of? In many cases this turns out to be pure (cheaper) filling.

1. In many cases this filling is in the form of partially hardened vegetable fats such as palm fat and sunflower oil. These fats become more saturated, but in an artificial way. This process can be compared to the production of margarine. These oxidized fats are bad for your body and cause an imbalance in the fatty acid metabolism. In addition, the well-known trans fats come into play, which have since been proven to be very unhealthy.

1. If you look critically at the labels of different brands of peanut butter, you will automatically see the differences. If you don't want to take any risks, the organic variant may be a solution. And otherwise you can also make your own peanut butter. For a recipe, see later in this article.

The benefits of Peanut Butter

1. Peanut butter does have many advantages, provided of course you don't eat one jar a day (Fri). The benefits do depend on the brand you buy, because there is a difference between the organic, the â € ˜originalâ € ™ Calvà © peanut butter and the house brands. The benefits therefore apply to all brands, unless specifically stated otherwise.

1. Normally peanut butter contains almost 45% fat. This may differ slightly per type, but it is clear that it contains fats. You can divide this into 80% unsaturated fatty acids (so healthy fats) and 20% saturated fatty acids. In principle, the latter fatty acids are not very healthy, but given the ratio with the healthy fats, this does not have to be a problem.

1. Please note the composition of the peanut butter. Oil is added to some brands / types. Sometimes this is the (expensive) peanut oil, but in most cases the (cheap and unhealthy) palm oil.

1. The fact is that peanut butter contains a lot of calories, so at first suitable not very suitable if you want to lose weight. Yet this is not a problem, because a recent study has proven that the protein-rich peanuts in the peanut butter ensure that the intake of calories is adjusted spontaneously, so that the total intake of calories does not increase, but precisely decreases!

1. The moment you start dieting, in most cases the peanut butter is immediately removed from the table, because peanut butter is fat, and therefore not good for the diet. This is definitely not true !!! Of course peanut butter contains fatty acids, a lot in fact. But these are unsaturated fatty acids that ensure that your body burns body fat more efficiently. So you do not build up extra body fat. Of course you have to overdo this by adopting a “peanut butter diet”, but a whole grain peanut butter sandwich every day is no problem at all!

1. Peanuts and peanut butter contain a lot of protein, an important substance in building muscle tissue. Not only important for athletes, but also if you want to lose weight. Huh? Build muscle while you want to lose weight? Hell yes! Muscle tissue ensures that you burn fat and calories, even when you are doing nothing and are relaxing.

1. The proteins in the peanut butter ensure a more efficient blood supply to the muscles, which makes muscle building faster.

1. Vitamin E is of great importance for your body. It ensures the building and protection of your muscles, ensures a more efficient digestion and fat burning and optimizes your immune system. A sandwich with a â € ˜normalâ € ™ amount of peanut butter provides you with about 30% of the daily recommended amount of vitamin E. Again, do not overdo it, because a varied diet is also very important.

The disadvantages of (industrial) Peanut butter

1. Peanut butter does have some drawbacks. Disadvantages that are fortunately negligible or avoidable. But I would like to mention them!

1. The peanut butter you buy in the supermarket contains a lot of additives in addition to peanuts. These additives are used to give the peanut butter a smooth texture, to make the peanut butter a bit sweeter. All additives that negate some of the benefits of peanut butter.

1. If you want to avoid the additives, try making your own peanut butter. Super easy and can be adjusted to your own taste! Read on for the recipe!

1. Aflatoxin is a serious poison that can develop especially in a warm and humid environment. Peanuts in particular can contain this poison. Although the controls on this are terribly strict, it can never be 100% avoided. Very small amounts of this poison are occasionally found in batches of peanuts.

1. But since it concerns the amount of 0.0000001 grams per handful of peanuts, the danger is negligible. Most peanuts are roasted to a greater or lesser extent to kill this poison. The tricky part is roasting at the right temperature, which kills the poison and preserves the important nutrients.

Make your own peanut butter

1. Do you want to enjoy the advantages, but leave out the disadvantages? Then make your own peanut butter. Very easy, and perfectly adaptable to your own taste. All you need is a good blender or food processor.

1. Here's the basic recipe:

1. Ingredients:

1. The peanuts are now ground in different stages:

1. After this you can taste and possibly add salt to taste. If the result is a bit too dry for your taste, you can add a little bit of coconut oil. Do this in very small quantities with a teaspoon

1. Making your own peanut butter is therefore very easy and quick, and you know what you are eating, without additives, coloring agents, flavors and other unnecessary junk. â € Disadvantageâ € ™ is that the homemade peanut butter â € butâ € ™ can keep for 2 weeks. But given the popularity of this delicacy in most families, this doesn't have to be a big deal…

1. Peanut butter can no longer be ignored and is a traditional part of the breakfast table. No wonder, because in addition to the many benefits that peanut butter has for health, it is also simply delicious! What is worrying is the additives that most manufacturers use: fragrances, colors and flavors!

1. Dextrin or aspartame is also used, both very unhealthy sugars. Since peanut butter has quite a few health benefits, I recommend that you read the labels carefully to know exactly what you are buying. Don't be tempted by fancy terms!

1. A good alternative is to buy organic peanut butter. Please note that the well-known bio logo is actually used. All too often, only the term â € bioâ € ™ is used, but has no basis or control whatsoever!

1. If you really want to be sure what you eat, go make your own peanut butter. Believe me: your own peanut butter is much more flavorful than the peanut butter in jars. Just have a try!