Table of Contents
The Health Benefits of Eating Apple and Peanut Butter
Everyone knows that peanut butter and apples are good for your heart. In fact, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, eating these two foods in moderation — about a spread-thin quarter of an apple or a spoonful of peanut butter per day — is one of the best ways to control your blood sugar, which can help lower your risk of heart disease.
And while it may seem like an unlikely pairing, research into the health benefits of eating peanut butter and apple shows that it shouldn’t be so hard to believe. Both of these healthy snacks are high in fat and fiber, and they’re also great sources of vitamin E, potassium, magnesium, and dietary fiber. They’re also filling and satisfying. Eating these foods in combination can lower your risk of heart disease, even if you’re already healthy.
The Heart-Healthy Value of Fats
While many people think of fats as bad for you, in reality, they’re incredibly healthy. You need healthy fats in your diet to stay healthy — and the fats found in plant-based foods are good for you. They help regulate your body’s natural internal clock, help with normal bowel movements and regulate your metabolism.
In fact, the fats found in peanut butter and apples are good for your heart, even if you’re not a health freak. The fats found in these foods are monounsaturated fats (MunsFats), which can lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of developing heart disease.
Furthermore, the saturated fats found in animal-based foods can raise cholesterol levels, but the monounsaturated fats found in plant-based foods can help control cholesterol levels.
Peanut Butter and Apples
The fats in peanut butter and apples can also help with weight loss and prevent cancer, according to research. The soluble dietary fiber found in these foods can help you feel full longer because it’s slowly broken down in your digestive system.
In addition to this, eating these foods in combination can improve your blood sugar control and lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
The Nutty, Grain-Based Flavor of Peanut Butter
A study published in the Journal of Science and Foodchanics found that eating peanut butter with whole-wheat bread could increase the amount of short-chain fatty acid (SCFAA) in your blood, which can lead to a decrease in your good cholesterol and increase the risk of having an abnormal liver function test.
However, another study found that consuming a daily bowl of peanut butter along with a legume meal could decrease blood pressure in people with mild to moderate high blood pressure.
The Health Benefits of Fiber
Fiber is a type of carbohydrate, and it’s what gives fiber the name. Fiber is what gives you that satiety (fullness) after you eat, preventing you from feeling hungry again as soon as you’ve finished your snack.
In order for fiber to do this, it must get through your digestive system and into your bloodstream, where it can help with various health issues. It can reduce cholesterol, regulate your acidity levels (how your stomach responds to foods), and prevent digestive cancers. Fiber prevents constipation, which can also be a side effect of eating fiber-rich foods, like beans and lentils.
The Sweet, Carioca-Style Taste of Apples
The sweetness of the apples and the sourness of the peanut butter go together in a flavor match made in heaven. Just think of all the delicious ways you could use this taste in your everyday cooking!
For example, you could make apple-peanut butter crumble, banana-peanut butter cream, oatmeal-peanut butter pancakes, etc. Another idea is to add apples and peanut butter to your favorite hot breakfast recipes to make them even more beneficial.
Bottom Line – Should You Eat Apples and Peanut Butter for Your Health?
Both of these fruits are very good for you, and eating them in combination is a great way to get healthy. The fats found in both fruits help keep your heart healthy, and the fiber found in both helps with digestive issues and weight loss.
As previously mentioned, the fiber found in peanut butter can also prevent digestive cancers. The sweet flavor of these foods goes great in combination, and you should definitely give it a try!