Peanut Butter 'Wards Off Heart Disease'

UK Daily Mail ^ | 4:50 PM on 25th June 2009

[lewisglad]

Peanut butter sandwiches, favoured by cartoon character Charlie Brown, could be the secret to beating heart disease, according to new research.

A study in the US reveals snacking on peanuts or peanut butter at least five days a week can nearly halve the risk of a heart attack.

A team of experts at Harvard Medical School in Boston came up with the findings after studying the eating habits of thousands of women with type two diabetes.

The condition dramatically increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Poor diet and lifestyle has led to a surge in the numbers affected by type two diabetes in the UK, up from 1.5 million five years ago to 2.25 million.

The latest findings, published in the Journal of Nutrition, support earlier studies on the cardiovascular benefits of peanuts and peanut products.

But it is believed to be the first study showing major clinical benefits in such a high-risk group.

In a report the researchers said: 'Peanuts are low in saturated fat and high in mono and polyunsaturated fats, which have been shown to lower LDL cholesterol.'

LDL cholesterol is the 'bad' form of blood fat known to increase the dangers to the heart.

But the researchers said peanuts and peanut butter could also be helping by reducing inflammation in the body, or boosting the health of blood vessels around the heart.

The team analysed the diets of more than 6,000 women who took part in the Nurses Health Study, a long-running investigation into female health trends which began back in 1976.

[Fawn]

I’m trying to find coconut oil....my grocery stores don’t carry it...

[MadelineZapeezda]

Maybe it was the mayo he put on his Peanut Butter and Banna sandwich????

[scripter]

Any news on adding potato chips and/or bananas to the sandwich? :-)

[Cheetahcat]

“Lots of schools now ban PB due to other students allergies.”

Shame, there was always a stack of PB sandwiches free on the end of the cafeteria food line, we were encouraged to stack them up also.

[MadelineZapeezda]

Walmart carries it in their superstores

[geege]

Oh good I’ll have another chunky jar this weekend:)

[Paradox]

I love nuts, all kinds of them, including peanuts (which yeah, I know is a legume, and not really a nut). The only thing with most nuts is that they are very calorically dense. So eat them in moderation. No matter how “good” they are for you, being obese is still worse. They are talking about snacking here.

[osagebowman]

A good health food store should care it locally. I am buying mine from vitacost.com thanks to a tip from another FReeper. They have lots of different kinds and the prices are very good.

LSA (posting on hubby's account)

[junkman_106]

I always wondered what kept “Good Ole’ Charlie Brown” looking so young...’course it didn’t do much for his understanding of Lucy and the football problem. Too sticky?

[numberonepal]

If this is true, my peanut butter and frito sandwiches will have me living past 150.

And I thought I was the only one. How 'bout PB on waffles and pancakes?

[paulycy]

It's also good for the skin.

[NerdDad]

Hey Doc

See this one yet?

[numberonepal]

I’m trying to find coconut oil....my grocery stores don’t carry it...

Hold your nose and venture into the hippy food store. They'll have it.

[numberonepal]

That one required the hose didn’t it?

[outlawjake]

I knew some day my beer and nuts diet would be proven healthy...

[E. Pluribus Unum]

This means the FDA is now in charge of peanut butter marketing.

Available by prescription only.

[Fawn]

OK..like Whole Foods? Thanks...

[Fawn]

Got to add that one to my collection of why I never wanted kids. LOL

[PjhCPA]

Good...that’s what I had for lunch. Along with a huge glass of Wisconsin milk.

[housemouse 1]

great, lets forget all abou’t the peanut butter scare