Peanut Butter: A Super Sports Food

robyflexx

New Member
Good article especially when bulking: Peanut Butter: A Super Sports Food



In this day and age of energy bars, protein powders and weight gain shakes, many athletes forget about "real" foods, such as peanut butter. Peanut butter, in my opinion, is one of the best sports foods around. It's tasty, inexpensive, satisfying, nourishing--and even good for our health.

But all too often, I hear athletes say "I don't keep peanut butter in my house. It's too fatty, too fattening." or "I ration peanut butter to once per week--on my Sunday morning bagel." They try to stay away from peanut butter. That's just nuts!

Yes, peanut butter is calorie-dense. But it can beneficially fit into your sports diet. The following information explains why I vote peanut butter (and all nuts and nut butters, for that matter) to be a super sports food for athletes who want to eat well and invest in their health.


Reasons Why Peanut Butter

Peanut Butter Is Satiating & Satisfying...Perfect For Dieters.

Because you will never win the war against hunger, your best bet is to eat foods that keep you feeling fed. This means, foods with protein and fiber--like peanut butter (and nuts, in general).

You'll feel fuller for longer if you have half a whole wheat bagel with peanut butter, as compared to the same amount of calories of a plain white bagel. The protein and fiber in peanut butter "sticks to your ribs" and is not fattening...unless you overeat total calories that day.

A Perdue University study reports subjects who ate peanuts every day did not overeat daily calories. (Kirkmeyer, Int'l J Obesity 24:1167, 2000) Peanut eaters tend to naturally eat less at other times of the day. (Alper, Int'l J Obesity 26:1129, 2002)

Plus, if you enjoy what you are eating on your reducing diet, you'll stay with the food plan and be able to keep the weight off. This is far better than yo-yo dieting!


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Peanut Butter Is A Quick & Easy Way To Reduce Your Risk Of Heart Disease.

Just slap together a peanut butter (and honey or jelly) sandwich on multi-grain bread, and you have the makings of a heart-healthy meal, if not a childhood memory.

A quick and easy peanut butter sandwich is healthier, by far, than a fast food burger or fried chicken dinner and far better than, let's say, an equally easy "meal" of chips or ice cream. That's because peanut butter offers health-protective mono- and polyunsaturated oil.

Trading burgers (saturated fat) for peanut butter sandwiches reduces your risk of developing heart disease. In fact, the more often you eat peanut butter (and nuts), the lower your risk of heart disease. (Hu, J Am College Nutr 20(1):5, 2001)

Start spreading peanut butter (instead of butter) on toast. Enjoy PB & banana for a "decadent" snack in place of ice cream.

Peanut Butter Is An Affordable Source Of Calories.


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If you are a hungry athlete who needs 3,000 or more calories a day, you can spend a significant amount of money fueling yourself (especially if you routinely eat protein bars, weight gain shakes and other engineered sports foods). Peanut butter can fuel your body without breaking the bank.

One hundred calories of peanut butter (about 1 tablespoon) costs about $0.07, far less than 100 calories of other protein sources, such as cottage cheese ($0.55 per 100 calories), tuna ($0.60) and deli turkey breast ($0.75).

The cost of 200 calories of peanut butter is about $0.15, far less than the $1.49 you'd spend on 200 calories of an energy bar...and generally, the peanut butter is far tastier!

Our Top Selling, Taste Test Passing Peanut Butter Protein Bar.

Peanut Butter Is A Source Of Protein, Needed To Build & Repair Muscles.

TAKE NOTE: Peanut butter is not protein-dense.

That is, two tablespoons of peanut butter, the amount in an average sandwich, provides about 7 grams of protein. In comparison, the calorie equivalent of turkey in a sandwich offers about 20 grams of protein.

Athletes who weigh 140 pounds may need 70 to 100 grams protein per day; 200-pound athletes, 100 to 150 grams. For 100 grams of protein, you'd have to eat the whole jar of peanut butter! Unlikely!

To boost the protein value of peanut butter, simply accompany it with a tall glass of milk: a PB &J sandwich + 16 ounces lowfat milk = 28 grams of protein, a good chunk of your daily requirement.

Milk simultaneously enhances the value of the protein in the peanut butter sandwich. That is, peanuts are low in some of the essential amino acids muscles need for growth and repair. The amino acids in milk (as well as those in the sandwich bread) nicely complement the limiting amino acids in peanuts.

Peanut Butter Is A Reasonable Source Of Vitamins, Minerals & Other Health-Protective Food Compounds.

There is a nice variety of notable vitamins and minerals in peanut butter. For example, peanut butter contains folate, vitamin E, magnesium and resveratrol, all nutrients associated with reduced risk of heart disease. Magnesium is also associated with reduced risk of adult-onset diabetes.

Peanut butter offers a small amount of zinc, a mineral important for healing and strengthening the immune system. As an athlete, you need all these nutrients to keep you off the bench and on the playing field.

Peanut Butter Contains Fiber - Not A Lot (1 gram per tablespoon) But Some.

Fiber in food contributes to a feeling of fullness that can help dieters eat less without feeling hungry. Fiber also promotes regular bowel movements and helps reduce problems with constipation. By enjoying peanut butter on whole grain bread, you can contribute 6 to 8 grams of fiber towards the recommended target of 20 to 35 grams fiber per day.

Fiber Products & Information.

Peanuts Contain Mostly Health-Protective Mono- & Polyunsaturated Fats.

When peanuts are made into commercial peanut butter (such as Skippy or Jif), some of the oil gets converted into a harder, saturated fat. This keeps the oil from separating to the top. The hardened oil, called trans-fat, is less healthful.

However, the good news is, commercial peanut butters contain only a tiny amount of trans fats and just a small amount of (naturally occurring) saturated fat.

For example, only 3.5 of the 17 grams fat in two tablespoons of Skippy are "bad."

To minimize your intake of even this small amount of unhealthful fat, you can buy all-natural peanut butter. If you dislike the way the oil in this type of peanut butter separates to the top of the jar, simply store the jar upside down.

That way, the oil rises to what becomes the bottom of the jar when you turn it over to open it. And if you eat peanut butter daily, you won't have to refrigerate it, thereby making the all-natural peanut butter easier to spread.

Read Up On EFA's & Browse What EFA Products We Carry.

Caution: Peanut Butter Is A Poor Source Of The Carbohydrates Needed For Muscle Fuel.

Don't try to subsist on peanut butter by the spoonful! Luckily, peanut butter combines nicely with banana, bread, apples, oatmeal, crackers, raisins, and even pasta (as in Thai noodle dishes). These combinations will balance your sports diet.
 
peanut butter is the 2nd god of all calories :D and i dont believe not relying on it by the tablespoon. I was throwing down 10 tablespoons of that gear down me a day when i was bulking.
 
peanut butter is the 2nd god of all calories :D and i dont believe not relying on it by the tablespoon. I was throwing down 10 tablespoons of that gear down me a day when i was bulking.

I throw 2 tablespoons into my protein shake when bulking and a cup of blueberries or fresh fruit. This gives you a healthy 800 or so calories as apposed to those damn gut busting, sugar loaded empty calorie having weight gainers!!;)
 
I throw 2 tablespoons into my protein shake when bulking and a cup of blueberries or fresh fruit. This gives you a healthy 800 or so calories as apposed to those damn gut busting, sugar loaded empty calorie having weight gainers!!;)
ha ha, i prefer to call them "fatass gainers" and yes, i agree there pretty dirty, sounds good mate, ive always made my own bulk shakes, more cals, more protein, less sugar, saturates and bloating lactose. id throw 2 tablespoons of pbutter down me with each meal for easy cals
 
I really enjoy a dollop of peanut butter myself.
But I like it on toast! Which is not good mixing fat and carbs.
I'm going to have to try you're shake RobyfleXx.I've been staying wide of the peanut butter at the supermarket.
What brand do you use?
 
I really enjoy a dollop of peanut butter myself.
But I like it on toast! Which is not good mixing fat and carbs.
I'm going to have to try you're shake RobyfleXx.I've been staying wide of the peanut butter at the supermarket.
What brand do you use?
why is it not good to mix fats and carbs??
 
I really enjoy a dollop of peanut butter myself.
But I like it on toast! Which is not good mixing fat and carbs.
I'm going to have to try you're shake RobyfleXx.I've been staying wide of the peanut butter at the supermarket.
What brand do you use?

Really, you can use any brand which suites your fancy. The Smuckers brand is all natural but only comes in small bottles. I stick to the Jif brand which comes in 4lbs tubs, it's just more convenient. A few months ago before i started my present bulking cycle, I put on close to 20lbs of muscle within 2 or 3 months just training hard and eating clean while spiking my shake with the peanut butter,a cup of blueberries or sometimes fresh fruit. Try it guys it really will shock you!! Oh and your strength gains will also be great.;)
 
why is it not good to mix fats and carbs??

Actually, you can have your peanut butter with toast if you want to, just use whole wheat bread. This is healthy food for bulking, some people just stuff themselves silly with anything they can reach. Note you'll find the gains are good quality gains.
 
Actually, you can have your peanut butter with toast if you want to, just use whole wheat bread. This is healthy food for bulking, some people just stuff themselves silly with anything they can reach. Note you'll find the gains are good quality gains.
im with ya on that, good carbs, good fats and a good protein source.
 
why is it not good to mix fats and carbs??


For those that want to keep good condition, the rule is that carbs raise blood sugar levels {even wholemeal bread} which in turn signals the release of insulin which is the storage hormone,so fat will be stored.
If you where to eat just the peanut butter, without the bread, the blood sugar levels will not raise,no insulin will be released and no fat stored.
A pre workout munch would be the best time if any.
 
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For those that want to keep good condition, the rule is that carbs raise blood sugar levels {even wholemeal bread} which in turn signals the release of insulin which is the storage hormone,so fat will be stored.
If you where to eat just the peanut butter, without the bread, the blood sugar levels will not raise,no insulin will be released and no fat stored.
A pre workout munch would be the best time if any.

Dude, it's a fact that carbs are needed in order to bulk...that's what this thread is about. Regardless you need carbs to live, and whole wheat foods are definitely better than foods containing starch. Whole wheat pasta, brown rice,etc...;)
 
it's a fact that carbs are needed in order to bulk...

Have you ever tried to bulk without carbs?{fat only}
I've never tried to bulk without carbs, therefore I'm not disputing that,what I am saying is I prefer not to mix fat and carbs,its normally one or the other for me.You can bulk without mixing them,it's less likely to make you gain fat.

robyflexx;605792[QUOTE said:
Regardless you need carbs to live,

Thats not correct,you can live without carbs

whole wheat foods are definitely better than foods containing starch. Whole wheat pasta, brown rice,etc...;)

Whole wheat foods still contain starch,it's just a slower process for the body to break it down,thus a slower release of sugars and lower GI rating.
 
i wouldnt really say you need many carbs to bulk, i think the term bulk has gone out the window at some point. bulking seems to be about gaining fatass not bigger lean mass anymore. I always put the term bulk down to building bigger muscle, not bigger bodyfat percentage.

Carbs are a great source of energy thats a fact, but at the end of the day........ carbs dont build muscle.
 
i wouldnt really say you need many carbs to bulk, i think the term bulk has gone out the window at some point. bulking seems to be about gaining fatass not bigger lean mass anymore. I always put the term bulk down to building bigger muscle, not bigger bodyfat percentage.

Carbs are a great source of energy thats a fact, but at the end of the day........ carbs dont build muscle.

This is true, but some people seem to think good clean carbs are not helpful, when indeed they can help fuel you through some heavy workouts. I get some of my carbs from veggies, whole grain brown rice, sweet potatoes, and sometimes even whole wheat pasta. I must say i always seem to maintain a relatively low b/f when bulking. What do you do for carbs Andy?:)
 
This is true, but some people seem to think good clean carbs are not helpful, when indeed they can help fuel you through some heavy workouts. I get some of my carbs from veggies, whole grain brown rice, sweet potatoes, and sometimes even whole wheat pasta. I must say i always seem to maintain a relatively low b/f when bulking. What do you do for carbs Andy?:)
oh i eat a shit load of them, up to 300+ carbs per day on a bulk, even 400g on some days id croak without them bro tbh, anything lower than 250g of carbs a day and i feel like ive got the flu all week bro, maybe i contradicted myself a bit before saying you dont need so many carbs, there just vital for energy, not muscle and nothing else as far as my experience goes with them, but i guess it all depends what your goals are and everyone is different.

my diet is squeeky clean always apart from the odd cheatmeal at weekends, i get all my carbs from lot of fruit, a bit of veg like corn and sweet potato which is also part of my eating plan wholegrain bread and raw oats mostly.

from what my body personally tells me, i cannot train without them, or at least not to my bodies full potential.

i would dread having to do a cut for this reason, i should imagine cutting can be real draining and drops your strength gains to some degree.

Fat gain is something my body type has never had to worry about so i can get away with eating all them carbs everyday, i just choose to eat clean for a lot of reasons.
 
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oh i eat a shit load of them, up to 300+ carbs per day on a bulk, even 400g on some days id croak without them bro tbh, anything lower than 250g of carbs a day and i feel like ive got the flu all week bro, maybe i contradicted myself a bit before saying you dont need so many carbs, there just vital for energy, not muscle and nothing else as far as my experience goes with them, but i guess it all depends what your goals are and everyone is different.

my diet is squeeky clean always apart from the odd cheatmeal at weekends, i get all my carbs from lot of fruit, a bit of veg like corn and sweet potato which is also part of my eating plan wholegrain bread and raw oats mostly.

from what my body personally tells me, i cannot train without them, or at least not to my bodies full potential.

I have oats in the morning, they are so damn convenient and fruit as well. It sounds like you've got a pretty sound eating agenda going for you. Keep it up Andy:D BTW I cannot train without them either i feel like a hunched over old man leaning on a cane.[:o)]
 
What I try to do is eat a small amount of carbs in the morning to get into an anabolic state,then minimize or even cut out carbs completely,this is when I can eat the likes of peanut butter shakes. A preworkout carb meal is essential, then two to three post workout carbs meals.
I can bulk on that and still look like a BB, not a PL.
 
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