peanut butter

[ANIMLOVER]

What's wrong with peanut butter besides the fact that it's cooked?
I read somewhere that it was cancerous and was telling a friend about it.
That's all I remember
Any comments??

[VeganVixen]

I havent heard about the cancer stuff (unless its non organic and has "filler") ,but most peanuts are gmo ,and have been hybridized to such an extent that they are victims of a type of fungus or mildew or something.....

[Revvell]

It's only cooked if it's cooked. There is raw peanut butter ~ 'specially if you make it yourself.

[rawpriestess]

peanuts are subject to a highly toxic fungus called afafloxin, and about 99% of all peanuts have this toxin.

However, it is somehow killed when the peanuts are cooked, so pretty much all peanut butter is cooked.

You can buy raw peanuts, however I've never even seen them, but peanuts are not actually a nut anyway, they are a legume, which is a bean.

So, if you love peanut butter, and you can find it raw, or you can make it yourself, then go right ahead and eat it.

I've never heard of the cancer connection though.

If you can't find anyone on this board who can help, you might want to "google" it and see what you find.

[Revvell]

Actually, it's aflatoxin and it's a natural mold also occuring in walnuts, pistachios, pecans, milk, grains, soybeans and spices. Seems peanuts are the only ones getting a bad rap though.

Here's more: http://www.drweil.com/u/QA/QA115491/


peanuts are subject to a highly toxic fungus called afafloxin, and about 99% of all peanuts have this toxin.

[Texicalian]

Nature's First Law sells peanuts without aflatoxin. Henry's Peanut Butter (unfortunately, I don't think it is raw; and is only sold through Wild Oats and affiliates) is made without aflatoxin.

[Revvell]

I'm curious as to how they can eliminate it other than cooking. Would you happen to know?

Revvell



Nature's First Law sells peanuts without aflatoxin. Henry's Peanut Butter (unfortunately, I don't think it is raw; and is only sold through Wild Oats and affiliates) is made without aflatoxin.

[Minibean]

The cancer thing is probably due to acrylamides (a carcinogen). They have been found in peanut butter, and I think other roasted nut butters as well.

I'm a bit confused about the raw peanuts - since they're really legumes, wouldn't they need to be sprouted before eating? I thought raw, non-sprouted legumes were toxic or something?

[Texicalian]

Revvell - I just looked at the Nature's First Law website and went to their "wild jungle peanuts". Evidently, these peanuts come from Ecuador. They were tested for aflatoxin. Here's what the site said:

BUT WHAT ABOUT AFLATOXIN?

Our associate knew he wasn't in the clear just yet. Virtually all peanuts are known to have a mold on them called aflatoxin. So before he finalized the purchase, he sent some samples up to be tested with a company called, J. Leek & Associates. J. Leek is the top independent allergen testing facility in the United States - they work with and test for the USDA, as well as large companies like Jiffy Peanut Butter. They make sure peanut companies stay within safe ranges of aflatoxin.

NEARLY EVERYONE WAS SHOCKED BY THE RESULTS!

Honestly, we all expected some amount of aflatoxin. But when the Lab Analyst from J. Leek called, he was perplexed. "Are you sure these are peanuts?" he asked. He had never seen anything like this. In four different samples, not a single one had even one part per billion of aflatoxin! That's unheard of! Even the very cleanest US peanuts have at least some aflatoxin present.


Hope that helps!

[Revvell]

Thanks Tex, good to know!

Revvell

[vegankristen]

A side note about raw peanuts- the taste is VERY different compared to the cooked counterparts. I don't like them raw at all, but i used to love roasted peanuts and natural roasted peanut butter.

Why not try raw almond butter. I buy it and mix it with sea salt and agave nectar. Mmm, spread on a banana or in banana ice cream..soo good!

Or, raw pumpkin seed butter. You can buy it from Nature's First Law (http://www.rawfood.com), and they claim that it tastes like cooked peanut butter.

Hope this helps!
Kristen