Peanut Butter a Friend to athletes

The other day I was in Chinatown, where you not only find the most unusual food supplies in the universe, but also those elements that have yet to become popular in Argentina. In-between the aisle lay the peanut butter.

For anyone who has, at some point, visited the United States, it is common knowledge that North Americans, from an early age feed on this bottle sweet. In the same way that an Argentine recognizes “ el dulce de leche” as a constant companion... the Yankees have the same respect for the Peanut Butter ... going from the creation of their legendary Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich, and venturing onto the King’s (Elvis Presley) diet which n turn was based on his famous: fried banana sandwich with peanut butter.

Now, why is peanut butter so popular? Why is it considered, in many countries as a key for growth and empowerment of youth? Why do doctors recommend it to athletes, children growing and anyone who needs help to form muscles?

Easy ... peanut butter ... a good batch, with little refinement and without so many chemicals ... are pure, pure calories. 74% comes from the fat that it has, while the rest is divided between your carbs and proteins. But these particular fats are good fats. Known as: Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated ....

Now for those who do not care for science and truly only require the facts ... How can Peanut Butter help you?

First a tidbit about appearance’s, you can find it both forms smooth and chunky… secondly: it fights cholesterol, it creates a satisfied feeling and destroys states of anxiety, even in small doses, it can count for all the days worth of minerals and vitamins, it combats stress and is one of the few foods that contain resveratrol (a substance, that not only aids digestion but kills fungi and bacteria in the body) ... and finally after 20 years of studies, it was concluded that it helps in the prevention of neurological problems including Alzheimer.

As an added bonus for runners, athletes or people with a hectic life, peanut butter they can provide a lot of energy ... the main marathon runners and competitive sprinters swear by this substance.

Nancy Clark author of Nancy Clark’s Sports Nutrition Guidebook and authority on these issues exclaimed the following:

"When it comes to food choices that a runner may have, there is nothing better than peanut butter."

It creates a sense of complete filling, which may be kept during the day. Unlike sugar, that only triggers your insulin levels, gives you that well sought out burst of energy and then plummets halfway through your... Peanut butter gives you protein, fiber, good fats and carbohydrates, and their properties will slowly be incorporate into your bloodstream, keeping you energy and strength throughout the race.

A word of caution: for ordinary people with a normal regime of 2000 or so calories a day, this substance can be counterproductive… after all it is pure calories and Fats… so a word of warning, “handle with care”.

But for people who burn energy like hummingbirds, or people who have very tight schedules with little or no time to eat: Peanut Butter is a rich, healthy and highly recommended food source, far better that any protein bar in kiosk.