Peanut Butter: Can it fuel your Diet and Fitness Regime?

Why peanut butter can be your best friend for muscle and strength gain? Read further to find out.

We see a lot of athlete’s & Fit people in the gym, running for long durations, adding extra weight in their dumbbells, and still walking out of there just fine with no sign of exhaustion, No muscles ache or muscle pull. It’s not just true for experts but newbies as well. What is their secret?

A balanced Diet!!!And Peanut Butter needs a spot in must eat food list.

Why?

You’d be baffled to find a food as versatile as peanut butter: Add it to your favorite smoothie, slap it between two slices of bread, or spoon it up straight from the jar.

There’s no question it tastes delicious. And chances are, you’ve heard it talked up for its quality protein content and heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, too. However, its good source of all macro and micronutrients.

Carbs are your body’s main source of fuel—the glucose found in carbs turns into glycogen, which provides energy to your muscles, allowing you to sweat it out harder and longer. Protein is important for building and maintaining muscle, and monounsaturated fats can help reduce your risk of heart disease and may even help you lose weight.

Peanut butter also has minerals that are essential to all athletes and gymgoers alike such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium. Calcium helps keep your bones and muscles strong, both magnesium and phosphorus help your muscles contract and help convert the food you eat into energy that powers your fitness regime, and potassium helps regulate your fluids, nerve signals, and muscle contractions.

PB is an excellent pre workout or after gym food which can provide effective fitness results. Be it morning walk, jog, or karate class, you need that extra push or boost of energy to survive it all.

Let’s find out more about it.

What is Peanut Butter?

Peanut Butter is the byproduct of roasted peanuts, sugar and oil which has proven to be beneficial for fitness, heart health and blood sugar level. Best thing about peanut butter is that it can be combined with fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and so on.

Daily serving of peanut butter is 2 tablespoon which contains

• Protein: 8 gm per 2 tbsp
• Carbohydrates: 6 gm per 2 tbsp
• Fat: 16 gm per tbsp
• Fibers: 10 gm per 2 tbsp
• Calories: 185 kcal

Like all sorts of butter, peanut butter too, is rich in calories and fat which is why you must ensure moderate consumption, enough to boost your fitness routine. Additionally, it is rich in antioxidants, zinc, and magnesium, all of which help to boost immune health and help in protein synthesis.

Health and Fitness Benefits of Peanut Butter

• May Help Support Weight Loss
  We tend to overeat when we get a false hunger alarm. This renders all your sweat, all your hard work to waste. Use peanut butter for the added benefit of its protein and healthy fat content which satiates your hunger and reduces weight gain. Though it may curb your appetite, it’s important to be aware of the quantity you eat.
  
  
• Reduces Oxidative Stress
  With added micronutrients, peanut butter also contains antioxidants which reduces oxidative stress on your muscles, meaning soreness or muscle pain experienced after exercise. It also improves immunity levels it tends to weaken during high intensity workout.
  
  
• Faster Protein Absorption
  Bodybuilders take their protein intake very seriously as it allows muscle building and boosts energy burning level during intense exercise. Taking 2 tablespoons of peanut butter allows faster absorption of protein and inhibits stress hormone release in the body.
  
  
• Aids Muscle Mass and Maintenance
  Backed by research, it has been proven that having peanut butter 10 minutes before workout is responsible for the release of amino acid and protein in the body which reduces lactic acid accumulation in muscles. It also enhances the activity of cells that absorb oxygen in the body during workout and supports muscle mass and strength.
  
  
• Managing Blood Sugar Level
  Our body’s metabolism is dependent on sugar or carbs we take in our diet, so peanut butter as a pre-workout snack burns calories efficiently. Moderate consumption has proven to be effective in regulating insulin production and blood sugar levels which may rise or set during shifts in body temperature. Plus, it contains oleic acid that maintains good cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure.
  
  

As you are aware of the benefits of Peanut butter in boosting energy levels, there can be repercussions if you overindulge in it, such as high blood pressure, obesity, and tiredness. Important thing to note is that if you have peanut allergies, it’s best to avoid peanut butter in your diet.

Pro Nutrition and Fitness