Peanut products are an important food for Canadians who have embraced the popular “Mediterranean-type” diet of fruit and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, fish, and modest amounts of red meat and dairy products.

Research findings have confirmed the benefits of the Mediterranean diet which relies on unsaturated fat, available in abundance from such products as peanuts and olive oil.

It’s a convenient and healthy alternative to the traditional Western diet that has relied on foods containing refined carbohydrates and sugars and saturated fats from red meats and high fat dairy products.

The inclusion of peanuts in the Mediterranean diet – whether eaten as a snack, as peanut butter, or in salads or in various dishes – is an effective way of overcoming the high-glycemic load of our traditional diet, according to nutritionists.

The popularity of the Mediterranean eating pattern, and the positive health effects that it delivers, underscore the peanut’s contribution to a nutritious diet and a healthy lifestyle.