Before I answer this, can we still be friends?
How many times do we see peanut butter being added in home-made satay sauce, spread over gluten free bread, added to smoothies and dipped in celery sticks - you know, healthy meals.
Because it's ridiculously delicious!
Usually when I put patients on a detox, and they see peanuts in the 'avoid' food section, they say ‘what Bec? No way, why? It’s a healthy nut?’.
And so I tell them, firstly they’re not a nut, they’re a legume, just like chickpeas and beans. Secondly they contain high amount of the chemical aflatoxins, which is produced by fungus. Aflatoxins are toxic and very damaging, even cancerous, to the liver. I know right? WTH!
This is because they’re grown underground, not like nuts that grown on trees. Being grown underground leaves them susceptible to fungus and mould.
Once of the biggest issues with aflatoxins is that they suppress the immune system (specifically white blood cells). This gives rise to many other pathogens in the body #thisisnotgood
They are also found in beans, corn, rice, tree-nuts, wheat, milk, eggs and meat, so we're exposed to them often, however peanuts have the highest amounts.
They can cause non-itchy rashes, headaches, gut symptoms, swelling in the feet, anemia and jaundice (yellow discolouration on the body - this means liver overload!) ... hmm looks like allergy symptoms.
Peanuts, especially imported, are one of the most heavily pesticide-ridden crops - hence why it’s on my dirty thirty list (check out and save that post on my Instagram page to see which foods to avoid buying commercially grown). Perhaps it is this toxic load on the body that contributes to an allergy to peanuts.
"Well, that's ok, I eat organic peanut butter". *sigh*, they STILL contain aflatoxins.
I work with a lot of people with thrush and mould exposure in their homes, and one of the first foods I tell them to avoid is, yes, peanuts!
Sorry Fran Fine, that's the last peanut butter jar you'll be eating.
Don’t worry I’ve got you covered.
Have you ever tried the following:
- almond butter
- macadamia butter
- hazelnut butter
- tahini
Seriously, once you try these spreads, you won’t remember who peanut butter is and you’ll happily skip him in the spread isle because you’re looking after your beloved hard-working liver!
You can replace these with recipes that use peanut butter with a 1:1 ratio - see a super easy swap!
Plus they are super easy to make at home if you have a food processor or high-speed blender (doesn't really work in a regular blender). Make sure you pre-soak your nuts overnights to activate them to help you digest them better and blend MUCH easier in the food processor or high-speed blender.
Another reason why I prefer these nut/seed butters than peanuts butter is their nutritional value. Peanuts are high in omega-6 and very low in omega-3, while these alternatives have a healthier ratio of omega-3 to omega-6. We get more than enough omega-6 from other foods in our daily meals, so aiming for foods higher in omega-3 is ideal.
What nut butters have you tried that you just can’t live without? Much love,
Bec
aka Poo fairy
Bec is obsessed with your gut...in more of an enthusiastic-than-creepy way! Book online for a consultation with Bec or contact us to learn more about how Natural Medicine and Colon Hydrotherapy can help you say good-bye to your gut issues!
*This blog is for educational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your doctor or other qualified health practitioners before acting on information on this article, particularly if you have a medical condition, taking medication or if you are pregnant.