There have been many fad diets thrust in the face of the weight-watching public, each one said to be the best way to lose weight fast. Diet plans such as the cottage cheese diet, chocolate chip diet and the peanut butter diet all seem questionable, considering the fact that these foods contain fat. However, people who have tried the peanut butter diet have been attesting to its effectiveness in weight loss.

To begin with, why include peanut butter in weight loss foods? Among laymen, peanut butter has come to be known as a “super food” because of its high protein content. It’s a welcome addition to a high protein diet. Proteins, as you know, contain the essential amino acids that are the building blocks of lean muscle tissue. The more proteins you eat, the more you stimulate muscle growth, thus, you are able to work out harder and burn off more calories. Peanut butter is also being touted as a metabolism booster. Another reason why peanut butter is effective in weight loss is because it promotes a sensation of fullness in your stomach, so that you tend to eat lesser.

How do you go on the peanut butter diet? If you believe that you are just going to eat peanut butter for the whole day, you’re wrong. You do need to have a healthy diet. The trick to this diet is to combine as much peanut butter as you can in the meals and snacks that you eat. For example, if you are making a switch from unhealthy junk foods but find vegetable snacks unpalatable, use peanut butter as topping or as a dip for veggie sticks. Another way is by adding peanut butter to your fresh fruit smoothies. You can make strawberry- or blueberry-peanut butter smoothies.

The concerns of certain people about peanut butter being fattening can be addressed by being more meticulous in the peanut butter brands that you buy. Most brands of peanut butter are made with a type of trans fats known as “hydrogenated oils”. Make sure that you check the label to see if the peanut butter contains hydrogenated oils, even if the manufacturer claims that it is “all-natural”. Also, genuine natural peanut butter would have a thin layer of oil at the top. You can either mix the peanut butter with the oil when you get home or you can drain it off.

It should be mentioned though that peanut butter is also high in uric acid content. If you are suffering from arthritis or joint pains, going on a peanut butter diet may not be advisable because it may exacerbate joint inflammation.

However, if you have no other health concerns except for a weight problem, please do consider going on a peanut butter diet. You may not lose weight fast, however, it will help you achieve your weight loss goals.