6 Reasons Why Peanut Butter is Great for Athletes
Many athletes worldwide consider peanut butter to be a superfood. Those who regularly exercise or perform various forms of strenuous physical activity and need nutrients on the go often rely on peanuts and peanut butter to get them through the day. Due to its good taste, nutritional value, and overall health benefits – it’s easy to understand why many consider it a staple food that can be consumed on a daily basis. In this article, we will take a closer look at why peanut butter is great for athletes.
Peanut butter can help supplement your nutrition
People who are constantly working out often find that their regular diet just isn’t enough. For many, simply eating a larger volume of food isn’t really an option because you can only eat so much regardless of how much you exercise. Therefore, athletes need to find ways to supplement their diet and intake enough nutrients in a compact, healthy way. Nuts are generally thought to be a superfood since they contain magnesium, zinc, copper, and iron, as well as vitamin B6. The healthy fat in peanut butter helps absorb fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K.
Peanut butter is nutrient-dense and packed with calories and proteins. However, for serious athletes, we recommend our protein-rich peanut butter spreads. They contain added whey isolate, which can help you maximize your gains. Thankfully, peanut butter is also filling, so you aren’t likely to overeat.
Can be used to keep your weight up
Some athletes are under a rigorous exercise routine that can cause them to burn through a head-spinning number of calories. Unless they manage to intake enough nutrients, they risk losing weight and can have difficulty building up muscles and bulking up. Any expert nutritionist or personal trainer can tell you that without enough fuel, it will be hard to achieve the goals you have set for yourself. Registered dietitians recommend turning to peanut butter as a natural source of calories. While peanut butter isn’t naturally fattening, it contains enough nutrients to help you build muscle. Due to the large protein concentration, it’s obvious why peanut butter is great for athletes who need additional protein to aid muscle repair.
You can snack on peanuts or peanut butter while you are working out.
Peanut butter can be a good casual snack
Sitting down for a full meal can take up a lot of time you don’t have when you are training for a major event. It also requires planning and preparation, which most athletes can’t pull off during their busy schedules. Instead of eating junk food, many athletes choose to snack on peanuts or almonds. However, you can just as easily grab a peanut butter snack pack or carry a jar of peanut butter and make a quick sandwich even when you are on the go.
Peanut butter sandwiches won’t make you too full or tired like some heavier foods, so you can actually keep training. Peanuts carry enough calories in a relatively small size, which is another reason why peanut butter is great for athletes. Although there are other athletic foods available, not many can compare to the protein percentage of peanuts.
It’s super convenient
Like we mentioned in our previous point, you can carry a jar of peanut butter in your sports bag and have a readily available snack at all times. Peanut butter is natural, and it can last a long time without refrigeration – which makes it a lifesaver for those long days at the gym. Due to its good taste and texture, you can also combine it with other sweet or sour snacks or just eat a few spoons when you need a quick caloric fix.
Peanuts and peanut butter can actually go into many recipes, which makes the intake of calories and proteins even more convenient. Even when you are not in the mood to eat something, you can stir up a PB and J smoothie and have a refreshing, protein-rich beverage.
Athletes who do endurance training can’t eat heavy food while they are training.
Peanut butter is a great source of energy
How many times have you finished your workout, only to feel a bit drained and in need of a boost? You can avoid that feeling by eating peanut butter even while working out. It won’t leave you feeling heavy and will give you the fuel you need so that your internal battery never goes empty.
Some inexperienced athletes reach for sugary snacks when they need a pick-me-up due to their perceived lack of options to refuel while training, or simply because they have a sugar craving. However, by eating peanut butter, you can be successful at avoiding sugar while giving your body what it needs to keep going. This is definitely important when trying to battle hunger in a healthy way.
When you are hungry and need protein-rich food, you can turn to peanut butter.
It's an affordable way to get more protein
Anyone who has tried bulking up will tell you that fueling their body can easily get very expensive. If you are trying to eat 3000 or more calories while avoiding sugar or junk food, you’ll quickly realize that there aren’t too many affordable options. Although you can try eating energy bars, when you compare them on a dollar-to-protein basis to peanut butter, the winner is obvious. Peanut butter will give you the proteins and calories you need without breaking the bank. You can also look at the nutritional value of other foods being championed as protein-rich. Do the math and compare what you are paying for with what you get from eating peanut butter.
In conclusion
Given all the benefits, it’s clear why peanut butter is great for athletes. However, it’s also a good option for anyone who wants a healthy way to intake calories and protein while avoiding unhealthy fats and sugars. Although there are many supplements available on the market, eating healthy food is the best option in the long run since it can help you maintain a healthy lifestyle and achieve the results you want. A healthy diet can give athletes the edge they need to outperform their competition. What’s not to love when the fuel for your training is affordable and compact? It might be time to pick up some peanut butter and start exercising.
