Food Fact Wednesday - Peanut Butter

Did you know that Monday was National Peanut Butter Lover's Day? Yeah, I had no clue either. I totally missed the day. Next year, I will have to mark it on the calendar. Do you think it is on March 1st every year or is it one of those holidays that follows the moon schedule? HAHA! So, it is only fitting that Round 2 of Food Fact Wednesday is about our sticky friend, peanut butter.

Here are some things to remember when you are noshing on a PB&J with the kiddos:

1. It has relatively high amounts of fiber and protein
2. Peanut butter also has very important micro nutrients such as Vitamin E, Vitamin B3, and large amounts of beneficial minerals such as iron, magnesium, potassium, copper, and calcium. Vitamin E is one of the most powerful liposoluble antioxidants, shown to significantly reduce the risk of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Vitamin B3, also known as Niacin, is a vitamin that helps in the recovery of cell DNA damage, more cancer protections as well as helps in the prevention of Alzheimer's.
3. One surprising and unique property of peanut butter is its high content of Resveratrol. Yes, the same thing in wines and grape juice. Resveratrol is a powerful anti-cancer agent as well as providing anti-microbial properties that help the body effectively deal with bacteria and various fungi.
4. Another interesting substance contained in peanut butter is p-coumaric acid, a polyphenol that is a powerful antioxidant. In fact, when peanuts are roasted, it leads to a higher content in p-coumaric as much as 22%
5. A study showed that females who ate at least 1 ounce of nuts, peanuts or peanut butter each week have a 25% lower risk of developing gallstones!
6. Peanut butter contains much higher quantities of antioxidants than apples or carrots.

And some non-eating things to do with peanut butter:

1. Use it to help give your pet's medication. Most cats and dogs love the taste of it, so just hide their pill in a glob.
2. Smooth peanut butter will help unstick bubblegum from hair and clothing.
3. Bait mouse traps with it instead of cheese. Mice tend to prefer it.
4. Remove sticky residue left behind when you remove price tags by rubbing with peanut butter.
5. Put a glob at the bottom of an ice cream cone before you put ice cream on it to plug it and prevent leaking at the bottom.
6. Make a simple bird feeder by spreading peanut butter on a pine cone and roll in bird seed.
7. To de-stink your house after frying fish, add a dollop of peanut butter to the frying pan once you take the the fish out and turn off the heat. It will absorb the smell.

Do you have a non-recipe use for peanut butter? If so, share it in the comments below.
Also because I love ya, how about a recipe for the SIMPLEST peanut butter cookies ever....and they are gluten free!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup peanut butter (smooth or crunchy)
• 1 cup sugar (white, brown, or 1/2 and 1/2)  I like all white sugar best
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• optional, chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all ingredients until incorporated. Drop by tablespoonful or cookie scoop onto a cookie sheet. These cookies don't spread much so use a fork to flatten a bit. Bake for 8-10 minutes. They may not seem done, but they are. Let cool about 5 minutes before taking them off cookie sheet and placing on cooling rack.
Enjoy!

Quick Disclaimer: I am not giving medical advice. Please do not use this information as a replacement for seeking medical advice. I simply want to pass along some extra health benefits you may or may not know about in the food you eat!This post has been linked up at:
Eat at Home

Food Fact Wednesday - OREGANO

photo credit - Santinha-Casis Possevis

I have decided that on Wednesday's, I am going to pass along information on various foods and herbs that go beyond the recipes we use them in. I will get to the easy ones like garlic and vinegar later. With spring around the corner, many people are starting up their herb gardens, so today, for my first go round, I am going to share some interesting uses for oregano!

Next time you are making something that calls for oregano, here are some tidbits that will be floating around in your brain with each bite:

1. Oregano has powerful antioxidant and an antimicrobial properties.
2. Used topically, oregano is one of the best antiseptics because of it's high thymol content.
3. Apply oregano (dried or oil) to soothe a toothache. I have experienced this one first hand, it works AMAZING for toothaches. Put a pinch of the dried stuff on and around the pesky tooth.
4. Add to warm water to make a teasan (tea), and it helps soothe coughs and asthma.
5. Add to a cheese cloth or coffee filter and put in a warm bath to soothe tired achy joints and muscles.
6. Plant oregano along side beans to enhance their growth. Oregano's potent smell deters insects which commonly infest bean plants. However, it should not be planted alongside broccoli or cabbage.
7. Oregano reduces swelling and inflammation.
8. Consuming fresh oregano can also help fight infections such as the flu and colds.
9. It can soothe bee stings and spider bites (bleck!).
10. Preliminary tests conducted at Georgetown University suggest that oregano's antibacterial properties rival that of strptomycin and penicillin.

Do you have some non-recipe uses for oregano? If so, please share below in the comments section!

Quick disclaimer, I am not giving medical advice. Please do not use this as a replacement for seeking medical advice. I simply want to pass along some extra health benefits you may not know about in the food that you eat!