Peanut butter - calories, benefits and harms. Peanut butter is a useful product for health, taste and beauty What is the difference between nut butter and jam

Peanut or, as it is also called, "peanut" comes from Peru, here for the first time during archaeological excavations its fruits were found. In 1890, an American nutritionist was the first to produce and use peanut butter, working on the search for a dietary food of plant origin, capable of competing with cheese, chicken eggs and meat in terms of its nutritional and energy properties. Peanut butter completely takes over the pronounced taste and smell of this nut. And the rich composition and thick enveloping consistency makes it acceptable for use in a wide variety of fields - cooking, pharmaceuticals and cosmetology.

Peanut butter, what is it like?

Peanut oil is a valuable dietary vegetable product comparable in its nutritional and biological value to products of animal origin. Peanut butter production is based on 3 ways:

Contrary to all belief, the peanut is not a nut, it is a legume that, like all legumes, grows on the ground!

The composition and calorie content of peanut butter

The rich composition of peanut butter explains its distinctive properties and characteristics:

Amino acids. Omega-9 oleic acid makes up about 60% of peanut butter, and omega-6 polyunsaturated linoleic acid makes up about 30%. Another 10% are saturated fatty acids - palmitic, alpha-linoleic, stearic, lignoceric, arachidic and others. All these are vital and irreplaceable components for human health.
Easily digestible fats. Compared to animal fats, vegetable fats are easier and faster to digest in the human body.
A complex of B vitamins. Among them: B1, B2, B3, B5, B8 and B9. The role of these vitamins is assigned to the regulation of water-salt balance, as well as carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism in the body. B vitamins have a positive effect on the hormonal background, immunity and appearance of a person.
Vitamin D. This fat-soluble vitamin helps the growth and regeneration of the skeletal system, it is necessary for the prevention of heart, oncological and endocrine diseases.
macro and micronutrients. These elements include magnesium, calcium, potassium, iodine, copper, phosphorus, iron, zinc, cobalt and others. All these components have a beneficial effect on human health, well-being and performance.
Choline or vitamin B4. Well-coordinated work of the nervous system is impossible without this valuable vitamin, it is also involved in the synthesis of phospholipids, which is important for preventing fatty infiltration of the liver and the development of cholelithiasis.
Betaine. Effective liver function is impossible without betaine, it also contributes to the full absorption of protein from food.
Antioxidants. This group includes vitamins A and E, contained in peanuts and oil from it. In modern life, an important role is assigned to antioxidants that protect and restore the human body.

Scientists from Germany have proven that peanut butter contains the polyphenol resveratrol, which plays an active role in the prevention of excess weight and helps in the fight against obesity.

This substance has proven effective in normalizing the balance of estrogen, has antitumor and antioxidant activity, lowers the concentration of blood cholesterol and improves liver function. Thanks to resveratrol, the production of collagen is activated in the human body, which has a positive effect on the condition of the skin, hair and nails!

The calorie content of peanut butter is about 600 kcal per 100 grams. This is a fairly high figure, like any other oily fat product. However, these calories should not be regarded as habitual kilocalories, their effect on the human body is completely different.

Useful and medicinal properties

The unique composition of peanut oil provides a wide range of its use in official and traditional medicine. Learn all about the benefits and dangers of peanut butter!

Peanut butter - useful properties:

Gallbladder. Peanut oil stimulates the functions of bile formation and bile secretion, therefore it is an effective choleretic medicine.
Liver. The oil is able to restore liver cells and prevents obesity of the organ.
Digestive system. Peanut oil prevents inflammatory processes in any part of the gastrointestinal tract, has a disinfecting and wound healing effect on internal organs. Thanks to this, it copes well with gastritis and ulcers, colitis, cholecystitis and pancreatitis.
Circulatory system. The high content in the oil of substances that affect blood clotting and hemoglobin synthesis contributes to the treatment of hemophilia and anemia in people.
Heart and blood vessels. Peanut oil reduces the concentration of cholesterol in the blood, so it is used to prevent the formation of sclerotic plaques, to normalize blood pressure and to increase the elasticity of blood vessels. Regular consumption of peanut butter in food reduces the risk of serious cardiac and vascular pathologies - ischemia, stroke and heart attack.
Nervous system. Choline from peanut butter is an active participant in the synthesis of lecithin, a building material for brain cells and nerve fibers. The systematic intake of oil in food provides high mental activity and concentration.
Diabetes. Peanut oil lowers blood sugar levels, so it is recommended by doctors for use in diabetes.
Vision. The oil has shown its high efficiency for the operation of the entire visual apparatus.
Leather. Peanut oil in recipes for the skin provides excellent hydration and nutrition, has a wound healing and tonic effect, helps to cope with premature aging and dry skin.

Oil can be harmful if abused in the diet, if a person is allergic to this food product. With caution, people with bronchial asthma and a tendency to increased blood clotting should feast on peanut butter. The most useful product is considered to be self-made from.

How to make peanut butter at home

Peanut butter is an attribute of a healthy lifestyle, it gives strength and energy, allows you to look better and feel great, effectively fights aging and helps to keep your figure! How to make peanut butter at home? Preparing peanut butter at home is simple: put dry roasted peanuts into a blender bowl and grind them for a long time to an oily state. To facilitate the grinding process for nuts, you can add a little honey or other vegetable oil. The finished product is recommended to be sent to the refrigerator. Naturally! Tasty! Easily!

Many are interested in the question: peanut butter and paste - what's the difference? is a ready-to-eat high-calorie and highly nutritious product, endowed with a peculiar taste due to various additives - salt, sugar, other types of nuts, chocolate, honey, etc. No less interesting and what is the difference between peanut butter and jam? Jam is peanuts boiled to a state of jelly with sugar, various berries and fruit juices are added to it for taste and color.

Peanut butter, with its unique smooth texture and active unforgettable taste, is an excellent option for a hearty and nutritious breakfast. This delicacy will not harm the figure, will cheer you up and energize you for the whole day! Worth a try - taste, satiety and benefits in one dish!

Peanut butter for breakfast - video

). Oddly enough, peanut butter turned out to be the closest in composition to such food. Like many other vegetable oils, peanut oil is made on an industrial scale by cold pressing (pressing). Subject to technology, the only ingredient that is added to, in addition to, in fact, the fruits of the peanut, is.

Carefully selected peanuts (it is best to use the Runner variety) are shelled, then roasted in special ovens at a very high temperature and constantly shaking for uniform processing, then cooled as quickly as possible with intensive blowing (if cooling is slow, this will lead to serious loss of liquid in). At the next stage, the grains are peeled and pre-crushed while removing the bitter core (it can be used as poultry feed, and the husk is added to the diet of pigs).

Did you know? To obtain one kilogram of the finished product, approximately 2,200 pieces of selected peanuts will be needed.

Now it's time for crushing. In small industries, this happens with the help of a manual screw press, in large ones the process is fully automated. In the latter case, hydrogenated fats are also added to the oil for stabilization. They do not allow the finished paste to delaminate into fractions, but greatly reduce its useful properties. After crushing, the finished product is cooled, laid out in jars and sent for sale.

Important! Hydrogenated fats in the food product on the store shelf is a veiled name for the same palm oil, which in large quantities has a very detrimental effect on ours.

Quality peanut butter should not contain any cosmetic fragrances, preservatives or sweeteners. From the purchase of goods with a similar composition, it is better to refuse immediately. The largest producers of this product are (about 45% of world production) and (about 20%). And the most active consumer of this delicacy is definitely the United States of America, where more than a million tons of this national delicacy are eaten annually, which is almost twice the corresponding volumes throughout Europe combined.
Like any other vegetable oil, peanut oil comes in several varieties. The unrefined version is not subjected to additional purification, due to which it has a reddish-brown color, a very bright aroma and earthy taste, however, more carcinogens remain in it. Refining (cleaning) makes the oil light and devoid of any pronounced smell and taste. It is less allergenic, however, the beneficial properties in it are significantly lost.

If the product is subjected to additional deodorization, it becomes even more neutral in taste, smell (and, in general, its usefulness). For the best, of course, choose cold-pressed oil. This, in fact, is a natural pomace from peanuts without any additional processing and additives. Such a product is slightly sweet in taste, has a very beautiful amber or greenish tint and a distinct nutty aroma.

Did you know? Interestingly, in the East, natural, unrefined peanut butter is predominantly used, while in Europe, the refined and "impersonal" refined version is preferred.

Since it is becoming more and more difficult to find a truly high-quality product on sale every year (even the composition indicated on the package cannot be completely trusted), many people quite successfully make peanut butter at home. To do this, peeled peanut grains are dried in the oven (after that they are very easily peeled). Then you just need to grind the fruits in a coffee grinder and grind with any vegetable oil (4 tablespoons per 1 kg of grains) and a small amount. It is this product that is best used in or for the preparation of cosmetic masks. However, in this case, it actually turns out peanut butter, not butter. Many consumers confuse these two products, not understanding the difference between them. In fact, everything is simple. Pasta is something that can be spread on or, relatively speaking, eaten with a fork. Peanut oil (Peanut Oil) looks the same as sunflower oil or: it is liquid and suitable, for example, for dressing.

Chemical composition

The main component of peanut pomace is, of course, fats, namely:

monounsaturated fatty acids (oleic and gadoleic) - 43.8%;
polyunsaturated fatty acids omega-6 (linoleic) - 33.3%;
saturated fatty acids (myristic, palmitic, stearic, arachidic, behenic) - 18.2%.

Of the vitamins and minerals, it is objectively possible to speak only about tocopherol (), it is it that, indeed, is abundant in peanut pomace, as well as present in it in a small amount (0.3%). On sale you can see fortified versions of this product, where the composition contains a long range of useful substances, including vitamins A, D, (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7), as well as trace elements (,), but these are the additives with which the manufacturer improved his product, they are not in natural raw materials or their quantity is negligible.

Separately, it is worth mentioning the calorie content of peanut butter. There are 899 kcal per 100 g, about the same indicators for sunflower oils, olive oil is slightly less calorie, even fewer calories in nut oils (peanuts, as you know, are not a nut).

Did you know? Approximately 5 g of vegetable oil is placed in one teaspoon, twice as much in a tablespoon.

Unfortunately, in terms of chemical composition and energy value, peanut butter cannot be called a balanced product. More than 70% of its calories are fat, the proportion of proteins does not exceed 16%, carbohydrates, respectively, and even less. As for what is more in this product - harm or benefit - for many years heated debates have not ceased. Meanwhile, it all depends on how, when, to whom and in what quantities to take it.

Benefits of Peanut Butter

From the point of view, this ingredient in our diet is definitely of little interest. Even if we start from the fortified version that we mentioned, the calorie content of peanut butter is so high that you need to drink liters of it to get your daily share of vitamins. Therefore, fresh and even heat-treated and are much more suitable for us as a source of vitamins. However, unsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants make peanut pomace a very valuable part of our diet.
In particular, its useful properties include the ability to:

improve the composition and structure (removes from the body, promotes hematopoiesis, lowers blood sugar levels, stimulates the production of antibodies);
positively influence the functioning of the digestive system (has an enveloping effect, accelerates metabolic processes, inhibits the development of inflammation, promotes cell restoration, prevents their damage, has a choleretic effect, prevents the formation of stones, enhances the contractile functions of the intestine);
strengthen blood vessels (prevents the formation of blood clots, lowers blood pressure, makes the walls of blood vessels more elastic, intensifies the blood supply to the head and other organs);
improve brain activity;
increase muscle activity, accelerate recovery after illness and physical exertion;
soothe, prevent;
exacerbate the sensitivity of olfactory receptors;
restore; improve the functioning of the genitourinary system (restores hormonal balance, positively affects the quantity and quality of sperm, increases potency, inhibits inflammation in the genital organs, stabilizes the menstrual cycle);
improve the structure of , and .

The useful properties of the product also include the wide possibilities of its use in dietetics and. Despite its high calorie content, it contributes to a very rapid onset of satiety, which is why it is often used to combat. It is very good to use it for those who work a lot physically.

They also often talk about the antitumor qualities of peanut butter, but such information has not yet received scientific confirmation, so you should not place high hopes on a fragrant delicacy in the fight against a deadly disease. But for people suffering from diabetes, to improve their condition, it is useful to include a small amount of fragrant amber liquid in their daily diet.

What harm can be

The first thing to remember before taking a similar product off the shelf is its potential allergenicity. Peanuts are among the most allergenic foods, and a negative reaction to peanuts can occur not only in people suffering from food forms, but also in those who react to the pollen of some plants that have nothing to do with peanuts. This effect is called cross, when ours "confuses" its true enemies with imaginary ones that have a similar chemical structure.

Did you know? Interestingly, almost every hundredth US citizen has peanuts, which does not prevent fragrant peanut butter from taking pride of place on the American table. National tradition, apparently, is stronger than common sense.

Due to the high allergenicity, peanut butter, like the peanuts themselves, are considered contraindicated for and. However, recent scientific studies have convincingly proven that there is no direct relationship between the occurrence of allergies and the use of allergenically dangerous products during lactation (moreover, this relationship is actually the opposite: the sooner you get to know the allergen, the better it will be protected). Of course, the high calorie content of the product is a reason not to abuse it in order to avoid negative consequences. The optimal daily dose is 5 grams (1 teaspoon). Everything that is useful in small doses, with the loss of a sense of proportion, easily turns into poison. In addition, peanut butter is undesirable to abuse when:

arthritis and arthrosis;
hemophilia;
rheumatism;
bronchial;
too thick blood.

Harm to the body can cause low-quality goods.

Important! Peanuts are very susceptible to mold fungi. If stored improperly, even high-quality peanut butter can contain very dangerous mycotoxins.

In addition, for all its proximity to protein foods, peanut butter cannot completely replace. It does not have everything necessary for the proper growth and development of our body. In order not to harm themselves, people who fundamentally avoid eating meat food should include other meat substitutes in their diet (for example, eggs, etc.).

Application in various fields

Peanut butter is a very tasty and, with skillful use, a healthy product. For this reason, it is very widely used in (in some countries it is even a favorite delicacy) and even in folk medicine. In addition, due to its unique qualities, this product is often included in the composition of various cosmetics.

In cooking

If we talk about peanut butter, then it is usually eaten with toast or spread on fresh. Many believe that it is much tastier than the more familiar spread or butter (although more nutritious). But if we talk about the liquid version of pomace from peanuts, then here the scope depends on cleaning. On the refined version, it is better to use the unrefined for refueling.

Important! Peanut butter has a lower melting point than olive oil and sunflower oil. Due to this property, it smokes and burns out much less. Thus, much less is required for frying, and the air remains cleaner.

Such an ingredient, in addition, will make familiar sauces, soups, as well as pastries and other desserts sparkle with new colors. For the latter, by the way, pasta is also perfect, you can, for example, mix it with melted, add coconut and powdered sugar, roll into balls or bars, roll in nuts and refrigerate to set. You will get great homemade sweets. If time permits and there is inspiration, try making chocolate cake with peanut cream, this old Bavarian recipe will not leave anyone in your household indifferent and will definitely surprise guests.

In cosmetology

When using such a fatty base for the preparation of cosmetics, a very high result is achieved.
Depending on the specific application, such masks and creams:

make elastic and taut, without leaving greasy marks;
prevent its dehydration, eliminate peeling;
delete ;
smooth out small ones;
treat solar on;
promote the synthesis of collagen, which is very important for skin regeneration;
reduce, improve their structure, protect from the harmful effects of the external environment;
eliminate;
strengthen nails.

Important! As an additive in cosmetics, you should use only unrefined peanut butter. The refined version, in turn, is perfect for massage.

To care for a few drops of fragrant fatty base, it is enough to add to shampoo or to your favorite hair mask (in the latter case, the mask should be applied not after, but before washing and keep for an hour, wrapping your head with a film and a towel on top). To strengthen the nails, you can rub the oil into the cuticles or add a small amount of it to the baths for or before the pedicure (manicure) procedure. For skin, use one of these masks:

Grate one hard green (pre-peeled) on a fine grater, add a tablespoon of peanut pomace and kernels ground in a coffee grinder or broken with a blender (3-4 pcs.). Apply the mass on the skin of the face, rinse with warm water after 20 minutes. Suitable for dry problematic skin.
Mix peanut butter with lime, apply the mixture on your face and leave for 20 minutes, then gently pat your skin dry with a tissue. Good help from.
The mask will have a rejuvenating effect if it is used instead of lime juice in the previous version (you can opt for juniper, rose or lavender).
When combining the second and third recipes, the mask will give an additional anti-inflammatory effect.

Did you know? Surprisingly, peanut butter can even be used instead of foam for. It perfectly softens the skin, facilitates the procedure for removing excess hair and prevents the appearance of irritation on the skin after depilation.

Warmed peanut pomace can also be applied to the sensitive skin around the eyes to reduce under-eye circles and puffiness.

In medicine

For medical purposes, unrefined peanut butter is recommended to be taken orally in its natural form (or as dressings for). Such a dietary supplement is indicated as an additional therapeutic agent for: To achieve a therapeutic effect, it is recommended to take a teaspoon of a liquid product (not a paste!) Three times a day. In addition, peanut oil is widely used in and as an external remedy. Thanks to antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and wound healing agents, it is applied as compresses, rubbing or lotions for:

herpesvirus infection;
atopic dermatitis;
trophic;
and eczema;
bruises and wounds, including purulent.

How to choose a quality product when buying

The choice of goods when buying is primarily determined by the purposes for which you plan to use it. Remember that refined and unrefined oil look different, if in the second case a slight haze is allowed, then the refined product should be completely transparent. If possible, pay attention not only to the color, but also to the smell of the liquid: if some flavor is present in it, then it can only be nutty. Any hint of mustiness or - a reason to immediately abandon the purchase.

It is very important to carefully study the composition indicated by the manufacturer on the product packaging: ideally, only peanuts and should be present there. All other additives and "yes", hydrogenated, sugar, etc. - are already "from the evil one." If you can’t do without all this, check before buying what exactly the manufacturer added for flavoring, preservation and similar “improvements” (some “essies” are real poisons and are prohibited in civilized countries).

It's good if you know the manufacturer's brand and trust it. So less likely to fall for the bait of scammers. Do not choose the cheapest product, a low price is almost always a guarantee of an unscrupulous reduction in the cost of production at the expense of quality. Finally, make sure that the product is not expired; oil with an expired shelf life cannot be consumed.

How to store at home

Like others, peanuts are best stored in (some sources say that room temperature is suitable for it, but cool is much more favorable for this). It is also important that the cap on the bottle is tightly closed, so its contents will be preserved better.

In any case, the oil can only be stored in a dry and dark place. The manufacturer indicates the exact shelf life on the packaging. Usually, before opening the container, this period is 9 months from the date of production, after opening it is reduced to six months. The longer the term is indicated on the product, the more preservatives it contains. Regardless of all of the above, it does not hurt to check the suitability of the oil before use. To do this, just smell it and make sure there are no extraneous unpleasant odors. Peanut butter is a tricky thing. It contains a lot of useful things for ours, but in certain cases it can seriously harm. Natural without any additives, subject to storage conditions, can and should be used in, but in very limited quantities. In addition, this kind can by no means be considered a full-fledged replacement.

Each of us, if we haven’t eaten peanut butter, has definitely seen it on the shelves in the store. It is usually sold in small plastic jars that are filled to the brim with a dark yellow paste. There is plain peanut butter and crunchy. The only difference is that in the crispy there are pieces of unground nuts. The taste of peanut butter (or paste, as the domestic price tags say) is sweet, fatty, and slightly viscous. And although one would think that this product is a very big fan, peanut butter has won the hearts of millions of consumers.

Peanut butter is popular with Americans.

In fact, peanut butter is easy to make. Peanuts are roasted and then ground to a paste. And that's it, no dyes and preservatives, only a natural product. True, some unscrupulous manufacturers manage to add sugar and various ingredients to the paste, so when buying, carefully read the label on the jar.

We will discuss the benefits and possible negative effects of real peanut butter.

Composition of peanut butter

Unfortunately, despite its popularity and good taste, peanut butter is one of the most nutritionally imbalanced foods.

100 g of peanut butter contains:

Carbohydrates: 20 g (13% of calories), of which 6 g is fiber.
Proteins: 25 g (15% of calories), proteins are similar in composition to proteins from other plant foods.
Fats: 50 g. And this makes up as much as 72% of all calories.
Total calories 588

While peanut butter is high in protein (a quarter serving), it does not contain all of the essential amino acids. So, for example, the paste does not contain the amino acid lysine, which is necessary for growth, development and regenerative processes in the body. To make up for its deficiency, it is necessary to look for other sources of protein, preferably of animal origin (meat, cheese).

The fats in peanut butter have the following composition:

Monounsaturated - 50%;
Saturated - 20%;
Omega-6 polyunsaturated - 30%.

It is omega-6 polyunsaturated acids that compromise peanut butter, but more on that later.

Vitamins and minerals in peanut butter

Peanut butter is very nutritious. 100 g of the product contains a huge amount of essential nutrients:

Vitamin E: 45% of the daily requirement;
Vitamin B3 (niacin): 67% of the daily requirement;
Vitamin B6: 27% of the daily requirement;
Folates: 18% of the daily requirement;
: 39% of the daily requirement;
Copper: 24% of the daily requirement;
Manganese: 73% of the daily requirement;
Peanut butter also contains a small amount of vitamin B5, iron, potassium, zinc, and selenium.

However, do not be fooled by such a high content of vitamins and minerals. Do you remember that just 100 g of the product contains almost 600 calories, and most of them are fats? The simple conclusion follows is that peanut butter loses in terms of usefulness to any other plant product, such as broccoli.

Other important components of peanut butter

Like many other foods, peanut butter contains more than just the standard set of classic vitamins and minerals. Peanut butter contains biologically active substances that have a positive effect on human health.

So, for example, the paste contains a large amount of antioxidants, including p-coumaric acid, which. Resveratrol has also been found in peanut butter, which has a potential protective effect on the cardiovascular system. And we can not say about the popular enzyme Q10, which, in addition to pronounced cosmetic properties, is necessary for metabolism.

Peanuts, diabetes and cancer

There have been several large studies (up to 85,000 patients each) that have shown the following:

People who included peanut butter in their diet had a 27% lower risk of developing colorectal cancer.
Regular consumption of peanut butter in moderation reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes by 21%.

Does peanut butter have harmful properties?

Peanut butter is high in calories.

While peanut butter has many benefits, it can still be unsafe.

Aflatoxins can cause the most damage. These substances may be associated with the development of liver cancer, growth retardation and intellectual development in children. How are aflatoxins formed in peanut butter? Peanuts grow on bushes quite close to the ground (bush height no more than 75 cm) and can be colonized by the fungus Aspergillus, which is precisely the source of aflatoxins that have a potential carcinogenic effect. Normally healthy people easily tolerate short-term exposure to aflatoxins without any consequences. But it is not known whether the body will be able to fight this dangerous substance if you eat peanut butter every day for many years, as many Americans do, for example.

Omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids account for up to 30% of all pasta fats. It is believed that an excess of these acids in the diet can trigger the development of inflammation and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. In addition, with regular consumption of peanut butter in the body, the balance of omega-3 and omega-6 acids is disturbed.

And the last harmful property of peanut butter can be considered its high calorie content. Therefore, you can eat peanut butter, but not every day and in small quantities.

Uses for Peanut Butter

Check out our list of serious and playful tips for using peanut butter in your home.

If you have a cat or dog that absolutely refuses to take medication and you don't want to use force, try masking the pill or drops in a little peanut butter. The vast majority of animals love this treatment.
Try using peanut butter instead of regular butter. It is suitable for sandwiches, and for pastries, and even for some sauces.
If you have mice in your house, why not catch them for peanut butter instead of cheese? An unusual but very true fact: rodents do not have to be lured with good cheese, mice will climb into a mousetrap with butter with the same interest.
Everyone knows that after frying fish, a strong fishy smell is felt throughout the apartment. To get rid of it, it is enough to put a teaspoon of peanut butter in the same pan and warm it up properly. The fishy smell will quickly be replaced by a delicious nutty one.
Well, if you run out of shaving foam, then you can use peanut butter instead. The high oil content makes shaving easy and skin smooth. The only but: the machine, probably, will have to be thrown away.

Discovery Channel Peanut Butter Feature:

Where does your morning start? Or rather, your breakfast? From a sandwich? Most likely, this sandwich will not be sweet. Favorite additions - sausage or cheese. What about oil? What if it's peanut butter?

Nut butter or jam toast is a common dish in many countries. The morning of several million Americans traditionally begins with a peanut sandwich. Let's go to the other side of the world. Breakfast toast with jam is already an English classic.

Often, peanut butter and jam end up on the same table side by side on a slice of toasted bread. Let's see what these products are, how they are similar and how they differ from each other.

What it is

Peanut butter is roasted and ground into a paste peanut beans (nuts). Jam - fruits boiled to a jelly-like state with sugar.

So, we list their common properties:

Like clockwork

Both products are a smooth mass that spreads easily on bread or pastries. A large amount of nuts or berries, in the process of cooking, are crushed and turned into a thick puree. You can't do it without a knife or a spoon.

Food or treat

Jam and peanut butter very high in calories, a small amount can quickly satisfy hunger. They contain many valuable and nutritious substances, retaining some of the benefits of those fruits that went to their production. However, it is not used in its pure form. Theoretically, it is possible, of course, to eat them with a spoon, but this will not bring much pleasure. Not self-sufficient dishes, but a successful addition to something, often bread or pastries.

Surprisingly, butter and jam go well with salty foods as well. Hemingway is said to have loved to combine peanut butter and onions in his sandwich. Sour jams perfectly complement meat and poultry dishes, and sweet ones - cheeses.

Helpful or dangerous

Only moderate consumption of these foods reasonable and helpful. It happens that both cause severe allergies and a person is forced to completely deprive himself of these delicacies. Both are stored for a long time, so it is vital to observe very strict sanitary standards during production.

The fruits of the earth and labor

Seasonal products serve to preserve a large harvest. Prepared from what a person has grown on the ground and collected. The prepared food is stored for a whole year or even longer, in a convenient container with a lid.

Industrial processing of both peanuts and fruit and berry crops began relatively recently, about 150 years ago. Farmers did not grow peanuts on purpose before, and sugar was too expensive. Over time, both peanuts and sugar became very plentiful and store shelves are now filled with multi-colored jars.

So now it's obvious that peanut butter and jam combine:

Pleasant taste.
High calorie.
Natural composition.
Long shelf life.

It seems that these products are almost twins. This is not entirely true, there are also differences:

One variety or assorted

For oil, peanuts are only roasted and ground. There are no additional additives in a quality product, the composition is unchanged and constant - only nuts.

Jam is made from berries or fruits, often different ones, with the obligatory addition of a large amount of sugar (and sometimes also pectin, if it is not enough in the boiled fruits). Jam is berry, fruit and even vegetable. It can be cooked from almost anything that grows and hits the table. There are lovers of this dessert not only from strawberries or raspberries, but also from green tomatoes, for example. There are the most unusual combinations of products in it: orange and gooseberries, pumpkin and ginger, rose petals, and these are just some examples.

Taste and color

Since the oil is obtained from nuts of one type and only from them, its color is always the same - bright yellow. And the shades of jam in the jar are very different and you can easily guess its composition by the color. Taste too, of course. Peanuts always give the same taste, unchanged, and jams have the fruits or berries from which they were cooked.

A sea of calories

Peanut butter is often used instead of butter, and jam is an easy substitute for sugar. One product contains a lot of fat, the other is very sweet.

his day

Peanut butter has its own holiday, celebrated in the US, while jam still enjoys unofficial popularity and recognition.

The main differences in a pair of oil / jam:

Only from nuts / from anything.
Contains a lot of fat/contains a lot of sugar.
The taste and color are the same / there are many options for flavors and colors.
Produced and incredibly popular in America / manufactured and loved everywhere.

Peanut butter is a plant product obtained from peanut (peanut) beans by grinding fruits using cold-pressed technology. There are three types of peanut butter - unrefined, refined non-deodorized and refined deodorized (see photo).

South America is considered the birthplace of peanuts, which is confirmed by archaeological research of the 12th-15th centuries. Peanuts were brought to Europe from Peru in the sixteenth century by the Spanish conquistadors. Later it was brought to Africa and North America, and then to China, India and Japan. Peanuts appeared in Russia in 1825.

In America, farmers were in no hurry to put the cultivation of peanuts on stream, since at that time they were considered the food of the poor, moreover, before the invention of special equipment for growing this crop in the twentieth century, this was a rather laborious process. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, peanuts were used to produce peanut butter and paste, which became an integral part of the diet of the middle class of the American population.

In the modern world, peanut vegetable oil is widely used in all countries due to its beneficial properties and nutritional value. The composition of peanut butter mainly includes proteins, fats and carbohydrates, as well as vitamins and minerals. Its calorie content is about 900 kcal.

Types of peanut butter

There are three types of peanut butter: unrefined, refined deodorized and refined non-deodorized. Let's take a closer look at each of these types.

Name	Description
Unrefined oil	Unrefined oil, or primary cold-pressed oil, undergoes only mechanical filtration from litter and particles left after grinding the beans. The result is a brownish oil, which has a specific aroma and taste, but it is not very suitable for frying, as it quickly burns and emits soot. This oil has a very limited shelf life and should be stored in a dark, cool place. It is produced mainly in Asian countries.
Refined deodorized oil	Refined deodorized oil goes through several stages of processing - from filtration to complete purification from all impurities, pesticides and oxidation products - using modern technologies such as hydration, refining, neutralization, freezing and deodorization. This oil is light yellow in color and has no aroma or strong flavor, but is great for frying. This oil is used in household and industrial cooking, as well as in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. It is most popular in America and Europe.
Refined non-deodorized oil	Refined non-deodorized oil goes through the same processing steps as deodorized oil, except for the last one - deodorization, i.e. steam vacuum removal of aromatic substances. This oil also has a yellowish color and, like deodorized oil, it is widely used in Europe and America.

Benefit and harm

The benefits of peanut butter are due to the content of many useful substances in it, such as vitamins E, B, A and D, as well as the minerals iron, manganese, potassium, zinc and selenium. In medicine, it is used as a prophylactic and therapeutic agent for many diseases, including:

Blood diseases caused by changes in plasma properties;
Cardiovascular insufficiency;
Diseases of the nervous system;
Diseases of the liver and gallbladder;
Increased blood sugar in diabetics;
Diseases of the visual system;
Ulcers on the skin, and other difficult-to-heal wounds.

Peanut oil is often used in cosmetics. It is added to various masks and skin creams, as well as hair care products.

Peanut butter can harm people who are allergic to nuts and in particular peanuts. It is undesirable to use it for bronchitis and asthma, diseases of the joints, excessive blood clotting. Like any other product, peanut butter not only has a lot of useful properties, but can also harm the human body, especially if you use it without knowing the measure.

How is it different from pasta?

The main difference between peanut butter and paste is that the oil is pressed from the peanut beans and has a liquid consistency that is used to prepare various dishes. Pasta is made from crushed roasted peanuts with the addition of butter, sugar and other flavorings. Most often, peanut butter is spread on sandwiches.

Many people confuse the two and often refer to pasta as butter, but they are completely different things and peanut butter cannot be made at home.

Application in cooking

Peanut oil is used in cooking in the same way as ordinary vegetable sunflower or olive oil. Food prepared with the addition of this product has a specific taste and aroma. Most often it is used:

As a dressing for salads;
In pickles and preserves;
For the preparation of first and second courses;
Add to baking
Used for frying and stewing.

Nowadays, peanut butter is widely used all over the world. Due to its rich vitamin and mineral composition, as well as its taste, it is often used in traditional medicine, cosmetology, and also for preparing various dishes.