Are you feeling stomach pain after consuming some spoonful of peanut butter? Possibly this is due to a digestion problem, as peanut butter is a bit hard to digest.
So the question is how long does it take to digest peanut butter? It depends on the amount you intake, the condition of your stomach, and the ingredients contained in peanut butter.
Read on to get a brief understanding of the peanut butter digestion process, timing, and some potential side effects.
How Long Does It Take to Digest Peanut Butter?
Peanut butter is made of protein, carbohydrates, and fat. Carbohydrates contain starch, sugars, and fiber that are indigestible.
Our body doesn’t also digest the minerals and vitamins in peanut butter, but these are beneficial nutrients for health. Instead, the human body absorbs minerals and vitamins while passing undigested fiber through the gut.
Instead of focusing on how long it takes to digest peanut butter, consider how long it takes your stomach to leave it out. In this case, our stomach takes around 2 to 4 hours to pass them out.
Peanut butter’s passing process and side effects differ from person to person. Hence, some people suffer more than others.
Our body struggle to break them down, particularly after eating too many. It can also cause some diseases like bloating, gas, and diarrhea.
Peanut allergens, according to the American Academy of Allergy, can cause asthma and immunologic problems in people who consume peanut butter.
Can Lactose-Intolerant People Consume Peanut Butter?
Yes, a person with lactose intolerance can eat peanut butter. Apart from peanut butter, lactose is also present in paneer, milk, and cheese. Hence, you should avoid this food as well.
Instead, you can consume rice milk, coconut milk, oat milk, almond milk, and lactose-free milk.
In addition, it’s better to talk to a qualified nutritionist to make a proper, customized lactose-free nutrition plan.
What Foods are most difficult to Digest?
Fatty foods like burgers, chips, and fried foods are more difficult to digest, and these can cause heartburn and stomach pain.
Hence, you should reduce consuming greasy, fried foods to make digestion more comfortable for the stomach. Instead of fry food, you should eat more lean fish and meat and drink semi-dried milk.
What are the Easier Nuts to Digest?
Unfortunately, there aren’t many nuts available that are easier to digest. Almonds are the only nuts that are easier to digest, thanks to their least acidic properties.
However, after healing your inner ecosystem, you can do some experiments by eating cashews, walnuts, and pecans.
Final Words
After understanding how long does it take to digest peanut butter, hope you should be more aware than before. In fact, the digestion time and its side effect largely depend on the amount of peanut butter you consume.
A handful of peanut butter not only causes stomach pain but also boosts the risk of weight gain and other diseases. So in terms of peanut butter, smaller is always better.