Peanut Butter: Superfood for runners or something to avoid like death

I wouldn't say its so black and white. I consider it good in moderation.

Superfood. Unless you're deathly allergic, then avoid it. Pretty simple really.

Funy....I actually clicked on letsrun with a peanut butter covered bagel in my hand. It's definitely an essential food.

i actually eat it a couple of hours before racing

it gets rid of that hunger before a race but you cant feel it at all in your stomach :)

I suspect that anorectics and reactionary whole food-ists comprise the bulk of peanut butter detractors.

I believe any rational person would defend peanut butter in moderation.

Raw almond butter...even better...

loaded with trans-fats off the shelf - buy it in the whole foods section and eat all you want.

trans fat? in what brand of PB?

Partially hydrogenated oil = trans fat. Natural PB, the kind with the oil separated at the top, does not have trans fat. Just read the ingredients.

then name a brand that does, Skippy maybe? Jif and P.Pan have 0.

nearly all commercial brands have 0 trans fat.

used to be a wine guy wrote:

then name a brand that does, Skippy maybe? Jif and P.Pan have 0.

nearly all commercial brands have 0 trans fat.

txRUNNERgirl wrote:

used to be a wine guy wrote:

then name a brand that does, Skippy maybe? Jif and P.Pan have 0.

nearly all commercial brands have 0 trans fat.

http://www.drmirkin.com/nutrition/N242.html

Exactly.

Smart Balance tastes great, by the way -- much better than "normal" peanut butter. It's all I use.

Apolitical Blues wrote:

loaded with trans-fats off the shelf - buy it in the whole foods section and eat all you want.

Trace amounts would probably be more accurate.

When I used to run I always had the biggest pb cravings. I would go through a jar/week.

Nice question. In my experience with diet and nutrition, there is good reason for the extremes, because the answer depends on the person. Everyone either has a tendency to constipation and slow digestion (>18 hrs to elimination) or diarrhea and fast digestion (<18 hrs). If you tend toward slow digestion, fresh, doughy breads, dehydrated fruits, raw nuts, and especially nut butters can give you a pretty bad case of constipation leading to headaches, colds, allergies, bad breath, soreness, etc - something to avoid like death. Since most distance runners have a faster digestion, I doubt many have a problem with nut butter, and actually reap some benefit from the slowing effect increasing their assimilation. Since I personally no longer run my digestion is a lot slower than it used to be and I don't tolerate peanut butter very well at all. If you buy the blood type theory, peanuts (not a nut, a legume) are truly considered a "superfood" for type A's, which I am. I find fresh boiled peanuts are truly a potent protein for me, and easily digested (and easy to make), and superior to peanut butter. If you know much about cooking, you know that proper preparation effects the digestability of beans, it's important to soak, wash, and thoroughly cook them. I believe the same is true of peanuts, as well as some of the other true nuts.

It gives me terrible heartburn, but I have had acid reflux for years. Its bad news when mixed with running.

Nenow says he ate it for years along with lots of Dr. Pepper. did not seem to hinder his performances.

Weary wrote: I actually clicked on letsrun with a peanut butter covered bagel in my hand.

Moderators, please block this poster from reading or participating in any of the "what to do in NYC" threads.

PB's just fine, had some myself in a post-workout smoothie a few hours ago, but on a bagel? No. That's just wrong.

I put PB on rice cakes, too. And on pasta.

Weary wrote: I put PB on rice cakes, too. And on pasta.

That's just fine and dandy. But it has no place on an onion, garlic, or everything bagel, you barbarian.