Can A Diabetic Eat Peanut Butter?

Introduction

Peanut butter assists in managing diabetes. It is a condition that influences sugar levels in the blood. This popular snack is beneficial to manage this health disorder. Carbohydrate play an important role in the diet of a diabetic. In a low-carbs diet, replacing specific type of foods with ground nuts, like peanuts is healthy. It not just decreases body weight, enhance blood sugar, and also normalize fats, and blood lipids levels in diabetics.

Can A Diabetic Eat Peanut Butter?

Peanut butter, and GI

Natural peanut butter has very low glycemic index. This implies that when any person consumes it, the level of blood sugar rises immediately in the body. Peanut butter has good amounts of magnesium that helps in offering protective advantages against the buildup of diabetes. These nuts are a high source of magnesium.

The ideal food for a diabetes meal is the one that has low GI score. Foods that rank low in GI scale, helps in releasing sugar slowly into the blood. Peanuts are one of the important foods that has low GI score. Slow production of insulin, and blood sugar contributes to the reducing the symptoms of Type 2 diabetes.

Nutritional Value

Peanut butter offers high amount of manganese, and vitamin E, that aids in effective management of diabetes.

Magnesium in peanuts benefits diabetic in several ways. Some of them being:

  • improved insulin sensitivity
  • reduces oxidative stress
  • prevents systemic inflammation
  • fulfills the need of dietary magnesium.

Peanut butter is loaded with fiber that is effective in bringing blood sugar within controlled limits. Addition of a tablespoon of peanut butter to your daily snack adds fiber, and protein to your body.

Peanut butter is high in nutrition. It is full of protein, healthy carbs, minerals, and vitamins. Following is the list of nutrition that you can get by eating one tablespoon of this power packed food:

  • calories 188
  • carbohydrates: 6.9 grams (it includes fiber (2.7 g), and sugar (2.6 g))
  • protein 7.7 grams
  • unsaturated fat 7.4 grams
  • saturated fat: 2.4 grams
  • calcium: 14 milligrams
  • monosaturated fat 4.5 milligrams
  • magnesium 51 milligrams
  • iron: 0.6 milligrams
  • potassium 238 milligrams
  • phosphorus 102 milligrams
  • zinc 0.9 milligrams
  • sodium 156 milligrams

Along with these nutrients, peanut butter also comprises of B vitamins, niacin, folate, vitamin K, and vitamin E.

The level of nutrition that you get by consuming peanut butter depends on the variety you consume. For maximum nutrition, choose unsalted, and fortified version of peanut butter. Peanut butter is best to be eaten at the time of breakfast.

Impact of eating peanuts on diabetes

It was seen that when peanuts are eaten in breakfast, they provide a wide range of benefits to a diabetic:

  • They found lowered blood glucose levels
  • Their appetite was reduced so that ate less food during the day
  • GLP-1 hormone is very significant for the health of a diabetic. Levels of GLP-1 hormone increased among those who ate peanuts. This hormone stimulates the level of production of insulin, reduces insulin resistance, and appetite too.
  • Peanuts boost the metabolism of people. It does not increase the weight of people, and keep it under control.

Important considerations to keep at the time of eating peanut butter

Due to the remarkable nutritional properties, peanut butter is considered to be a superfood for a diabetic.  However, to get maximum nutrition that does not have any risks, it is important to choose the right product and eat it wisely.

Added sugar

A lot of peanut butter products you find at the store has added sugars. Opt for brands that provides low fat, low salt and low sugar peanut sugar. Always check the nutrition label at the time of buying it.

Fatty acids

Peanuts have fat, with high levels of Omega 3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. Diabetes is a type of inflammatory disorder. High ratio of omega 6 fatty acids to omega 3 fatty acids will help in reducing inflammation and other diabetes complications.

Calories

Peanut butter is a calorie rich food. 1 tbsp of it provides 188 calories. Eat it in moderation to prevent any risks of obesity.

Peanut allergies

If you have peanut allergy, then should not consume it. Look for other diabetic friendly food choices that do not provides any discomforts.

Conclusion

Peanut butter has a lot of important nutrients, that can be a healthful inclusion to your diabetes meal plan. However, it is essential to eat peanut butter in moderate amounts. It is loaded with calories. People need to ensure that the product they consume isn’t high in added fat, salt, and sugar.