Peanuts and peanut butter found to suppress hunger
TORONTO, Sep 18, 2000 (CNW via COMTEX) -- A new study shows that snacking on
peanuts and peanut butter is an effective way to control hunger without leading
to weight gain. Subjects who snacked on peanuts and peanut butter self-adjusted
their caloric intake spontaneously and did not add extra calories to their daily
diets. These findings are published in this month's International Journal of
Obesity (Vol. 24, p.1167-75).
Following a snack of peanuts or peanut butter, the participants' hunger was
reduced for two and one half-hours. When they were fed typical portions of other
snacks (such as rice cakes), hunger returned within one half hour. Furthermore,
there was a positive change in the fatty acid profile of the daily diet
reflecting the composition of the peanut and peanut butter snack. Mono- and
polyunsaturated fats increased and saturated fat decreased proportionately.
Rick Mattes, PhD, RD, Professor in the Department of Foods and Nutrition at
Purdue University, who conducted the study says, "These findings are important
because they challenge the belief that eating high-fat foods like peanuts and
peanut butter lead to weight gain." The research results also support previous
long- and short-term studies indicating that regular consumption of peanuts does
not necessarily promote weight gain and can, in fact, actually improve
cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk profile. |
