The peanut butter and jelly sandwich: Sports nutrition in action
Packed with 8g protein per 1oz serving (compared with 6g for almonds and pistachios, 5g for cashews, 4g for walnuts, hazelnuts and brazil nuts, and 2g for pecans and macademia nuts); peanuts contain more protein than any other nut, making them ideal for sports nutrition applications, Emily Baker, manager of nutrition communications at PMK Associates, told delegates at the three-day event.
Peanuts also contain the highest levels of arginine (an amino acid involved in protein synthesis) of any whole food, said Baker.
Arginine also serves as a precursor to nitric oxide, which helps expand blood vessels and decrease blood pressure, which could translate into improved cardiovascular performance, she said.
Meanwhile, peanuts are a good source of other nutrients important to athletes, including vitamin E (to tackle oxidative stress), B vitamins for energy metabolism, zinc for muscle repair and iron for delivering oxygen to muscles and tissues.
Digestible protein
Finally, peanut protein has a higher digestibility than protein from chickpeas, rice, wheat pasta, soy or cornmeal, she added.
As such, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich fits perfectly into pre, during and post-workout nutrition regimes, providing carbs for energy and protein for muscle building and repair; fat for endurance and arginine for improved blood flow to the muscles, she said.
It is also a considerably cheaper option than many packaged sports nutrition products, she pointed out.
“Everyone can afford a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.”
