| NUTRITION AND PEANUTS |
| There’s
good reason why USA peanuts and peanut butter have survived
in an era of fad diets and confusing, ever-changing food trends. We
love their flavor, crunch and versatility. Best of all,
they taste great and we can eat them knowing we’re
doing something healthful for ourselves and for our loved
ones. |
The National Peanut Boad (NPB) is committed to helping individuals
eat healthier by educating them about the healthful benefits of peanuts and peanut products. Peanuts and peanut butter meet many of the major recommendations set forth in the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, including choosing a variety of nutrient-dense foods and beverages within and among the basic food groups and limiting saturated and trans fats, cholesterol and added sugars.
Peanuts and peanut butter contribute more than 30 essential vitamins and minerals and can be part of a varied balanced diet that promotes good health. |
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| Many consumers need to increase their consumption of foods rich in vitamin E, potassium and fiber. Peanuts are a good source of vitamin E, fiber, magnesium and folate and are an excellent source of niacin (Vitamin B). |
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The Daily Reference Value (DV) helps consumers use food label information to plan a healthy overall diet. DV provides a nutrient content percentage based on a daily recommendation. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) one serving of peanuts provides 20 % of the Daily Reference Value (DV) for niacin and 10% DV of magnesium, Vitamin E, folate, copper, and phosphorus. One serving also contains 7 grams of protein.
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Some key nutrition benefits of peanuts and peanut butter are:
- Niacin is an important B vitamin that helps to convert food to energy. Peanuts are an excellent source of niacin. See nutrition information for fat content.
- Folate is needed for cell division, which means that adequate folate intake is especially important during pregnancy and childhood when tissues are growing rapidly. Peanuts are a good source of folate. See nutrition information for fat content.
- Vitamin E is a dietary antioxidant that helps to protect cells from oxidative stress, a normal, yet damaging, physiological process. Peanuts and peanut butter are a good source of vitamin E. See nutrition information for fat content.
- Dietary fiber is important in maintaining a healthy digestive tract. Peanuts are a good source of fiber. Contains 14g fat per serving.
Both monounsaturated fat and polyunsaturated fat contribute to a healthful diet when they replace saturated fat in the diet. Peanuts and peanut butter contains 4.5 g polyunsaturated and 8 g monounsaturated fat per serving. See nutrition information for fat content.
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