National Peanut Butter Day

Peanuts, an American staple for generations, reportedly originated in South America around 3,500 years ago. They grow underground like potatoes. Contrary to popular belief, this legume is not a nut. Nuts grow on trees. Nutritionally speaking, peanut butter is a good source of vitamin E, B6, niacin, calcium, potassium, iron and is rich in healthy monounsaturated fat. According to The Peanut Institute, this popular snack is packed with 8 grams of protein per ounce, more than any other nut.

In addition to being high in necessary nutrients such as magnesium, phosphorus, selenium, zinc, when paired with other nutrient-rich foods, studies have shown that peanuts helps us absorb nutrients better.

Inventions and processes started late in the 19^th century helped bring us here…….

Ø  1884, Marcus Gilmore Edson of Canada developed a process to make peanut paste from milling roasted peanuts between two heated plates.

Ø  1895, Kellogg, the famous cereal maker patented a process with raw peanuts.

Ø  1903, Dr. Ambrose Straub of St. Louis, Missouri is responsible for patenting a peanut butter making machine

Ø  1904, C.H. Sumner’s introduced peanut butter to audiences at his concession stand in the St Louis Universal Exposition.

Ø  1916, George Washington Carver published his research “How to Grow the Peanut and 105 Ways of Preparing it for Human Consumption”. His research resulted in many non-food uses for this amazing goober; including shaving cream, plastics, cosmetics and coffee.

Ø  1922 Joseph Rosefield brought us the creamy, smooth peanut butter we enjoy today. Through homogenization, Rosefield was able to keep peanut oil from separating from the peanut solids. He later sold the patent to a company that began making Peter Pan peanut butter and later went into business for himself selling Skippy peanut butter through Rosefield Packing.

In the U.S., peanuts and peanut butter are the most popular nut choice and comprise 67% of all nut consumption. (SOURCE: http://www.peanut-institute.org/peanut-facts/)

Yours in health - Dr. Velonda      TWITTER: #drvelonda     FACEBOOK: Be-fit, Inc.