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Article: The peanut controversy. (peanut oil and risk of atherosclerosis)
- Article from:
- Nutrition Action Healthletter
- Article date:
- January 1, 1988
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1988 Center for Science in the Public Interest. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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The Peanut Controversy
For anyone who's been responsible for providing quick, popular meals to hungry children or adults, an attack on peanut butter strikes close to home. How could this friendly, familiar sandwich staple possibly do harm?
Theoretically, scientists, too, should have little reason to suspect peanut butter as a threat to blood vessels. Peanut oil -- which contributes 80 percent of peanut butter's calories -- is largely unsaturated, the kind that doesn't raise blood cholesterol levels.
But some animal studies suggest that, despite its welcome effect on blood cholesterol, peanut oil clogs the arteries with cholesterol deposits, or ...