Many diet and weight loss experts recommend peanut butter for weight loss. But many (smart) dieters have a hard time believing that claim. Peanut butter tends to be a fatty food. So before you dip your spoon in the jar, find out how just how many calories are in peanut butter and how to buy the best peanut butter for you.
Calories in Peanut Butter
According to CalorieCount.com, there are about 17 grams of fat and 190 calories in peanut butter, but the number can vary based on the brand. Reduced fat peanut butter contains about the same number of calories but contains only 12 grams of fat.
But you also need to consider portion size when determining total calories. A single serving of peanut butter is just 2 tablespoons. When is the last time you measured your peanut butter before you spread it on a peice of bread? Peanut butter is one of the foods that dieters often overeat. So the number of calories you consume can easily be more than you think.
Should You Eat Peanut Butter on a Diet?
If you are trying to lose and you want to include peanut butter in your diet, you'll enjoy several benefits when you the creamy or crunchy food. The fat in peanut butter will help you to feel satisfied and full. And the peanuts provides a nice protein boost.
But peanut butter is high in fat and calories. You can choose the lower fat variety, but the sugar content in these varieties is higher. You get less fat, but more corn syrup. If you think natural varieties are better for dieters, think again. Natural peanut butter generally contains less sugar but roughly the same amount of fat and calories as the processed brands.
Dieters should also be aware that peanut butter flavored foods don't always contain peanut butter. Or the food may contain peanut butter but in a such a small amount that you don't really benefit from the nut protein. Peanut butter flavored foods may not be a good choice for dieters.
If you include peanut butter in your diet, be sure to measure the amount you use so that you know exactly how many calories to add to your food diary. And remember, a little goes a long way!