It’s in your smoothies, on your toast and on your rice cakes. Peanut butter is the flavor of the year. And, like most of us are aware, it’s extremely easy to get addicted to this creamy nutty goodness.
Peanut butter is packed with antioxidants and healthy fat. One study proves that eating peanuts can keep you safe from heart issues. Another study also says eating 2 tablespoons of peanut butter at least 5 days a week reduces your risk of developing diabetes by 20%.1
But, if you are eating unhealthy amounts of peanut butter, it could result in weight gain. Also, some brands have huge amounts of sugar added to it. Moderation is key when it comes to anything. If you have been reaching to peanut butter more often, it could be your body’s way of letting you know something is up.
Reasons For Craving Peanut Butter
1. You Are On A Low-Carb Diet
Cutting carbs from your diet is extremely difficult. When you aren’t munching on comforting carbs, you tend to reach out to other things that offer a similar level of comfort (read peanut butter). These cravings are especially stronger in the initial weeks of eliminating carbs.
What You Can Do: Include healthy carbs like oatmeal, whole wheat pasta, and sweet potatoes in your diet. Spread peanut butter on apple slices as well.
2. You Aren’t Getting Enough Of Fat
Just like carbs, eliminating fat from your diet can give you strange peanut butter cravings. When you deprive your body from fat, you will probably end up spreading peanut butter on everything to compensate this loss. Because your body wants quality fat.
What You Can Do: Add healthy fats like coconut oil, avocado, olive oil, salmon, and tofu. If you’re up for it, add a few drops of coconut oil to peanut butter.
3. You Have A Vitamin Deficiency
Sometimes certain vitamin deficiencies can make you reach to peanut butter more often. A few people suggest their low levels of vitamin B and magnesium made them go after peanut butter.
What You Can Do: Find out if you are deficient in any vitamins and minerals. Once that is sorted, make sure to include healthy sources into your diet.
4. You Have Made It Your “Go To” Food
You just started eating clean and it’s tough. We get that. Peanut butter is yummy, healthy, and it makes you feel good. It’s no reason that you’ve crowned it as your “go to” food to help you get through clean eating.
What You Can Do: Learn to mix it up. There are so many other equally comforting healthy foods. Like berries, avocado toasts, and pizzas (yes, a healthy pizza is a real thing).
5. You Are Drowning In Stress
Remember how peanut butter always put you in a good mood? That’s because it contains a compound known as beta-sitosterol, which helps to combat the effects of stress. When you are stressed or feeling low, you would probably reach to peanut butter because it’s your way of dealing with stress.
What You Can Do: It’s okay to indulge in a little peanut butter. But it doesn’t have to be a solution all the time. Listen to your favorite music, grab the phone and call up your friends, or simply take a walk. Distracting yourself always works.
Remember, too much of a good thing is bad. So, continue your affair with peanut butter, but keep it in check!
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