| Low cholesterol foods are still in abundance. The | | | | Peanuts and peanut butter contain more than 30 |
| recent ban in New York City restaurants has | | | | essential nutrients and phytonutrients, including |
| awakened many people to the dangers of trans | | | | vitamin E. A two tablespoon serving of peanut |
| fats. Unfortunately, it has also caused a great deal | | | | butter contains 12.2 grams of unsaturated and |
| of confusion. | | | | poly unsaturated fat and 3.3 grams of saturated |
| According to the National Peanut Board, trans fat | | | | fat. Moreover, low cholesterol foods like peanut |
| levels in both commercially prepared and natural | | | | butter, can brag that it contains zero cholesterol. |
| peanut butters are undetectable. Put another way, | | | | Besides all of that information, it is fun to eat and |
| research indicates that you can eat 156 peanut | | | | tastes delicious as well. |
| butter sandwiches without consuming even 0.5 | | | | We all realize that trans fats are very dangerous. |
| grams of trans fat. | | | | According to the American Heart Association, |
| Neither peanut butter, peanuts or peanut oil are | | | | trans fats cause a lowering of good cholesterol |
| an issue for restaurants in New York. Chuck Hunt, | | | | and an increase in bad cholesterol. |
| vice president of the New York City Chapter of | | | | This action on your system increases the risk of |
| the New York State Restaurant Association has | | | | developing heart disease and stroke. In 2006 the |
| said that peanut butter alternatives are good | | | | FDA began requiring food companies to list trans |
| alternatives. | | | | fat content separately on the Nutrition facts panel |
| Confusion exists over peanut butter because | | | | of all packaged foods. |
| conventional science says that products made | | | | Certain food activists are challenging the FDA |
| with a partially hydrogenated oil stabilizer, will | | | | policy that says that if the serving contains less |
| contain trace amounts of trans fat. A recent | | | | than 0.5 grams of trans fat, it can be expressed |
| study has shown that peanut butter is one of the | | | | as zero on the package. Their argument centers |
| low cholesterol foods that are made with very | | | | around the fact that a person who consumes |
| little hydrogenated oil. Resulting in no detectable | | | | multiple servings throughout the day of products |
| amounts of trans fat in the finished product. | | | | labeled as having 0 trans fats could in fact, |
| These same studies indicate that all hydrogenated | | | | surpass recommended levels. |
| oil is not the same. You cannot generalize about all | | | | Trans fat zero foods tend to add up. Experts say |
| products that contain hydrogenated oil. Peanut | | | | manufacturers should have to list even traces of |
| butter provides a variety of healthful benefits for | | | | the substance. For peanut butter though, |
| children and adults. It is one of the few foods that | | | | manufacturers are trying to increase consumer |
| can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch or dinner. | | | | demand by promoting the great taste, nutrition, |
| Peanut butter also adds nutritional value when | | | | and culinary versatility of peanuts. |
| included as part of a balanced diet. | | | | |