Peanut butter is a good source of healthy fats, a low carb food, rich in antioxidants, healthy vitamins and trace minerals. Even though peanut butter is quiet nutritious, unprocessed peanut butter may also contain substances that can be harmful, including aflatoxins.

Peanuts are not a nut at all but a legume and they grow underground. Unlike nuts which are covered with a hard shell, peanuts are sealed inside a supple, porous shell. This characteristic makes peanuts susceptible to contaminants like pesticides and mold. They can be colonized by a widespread mold called "Aspergillus fungus". This mold is a source of aflatoxins, which are harmful to health.

We know that peanuts can trigger life threatening allergic reactions but we don't fully understand the root cause. Peanuts have the ability to absorb toxic waste and heavy metals and are a highly toxic load which may be the cause of the allergic reaction.

Studies have found that high aflatoxin exposure is linked to liver cancer, stunted growth in children and delays in mental health.

My recommendation is:

Buy organic reputable peanut butter brands with established efficient monitoring control standards.

Try different nut butters such as:

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• Walnut butter

• Almond butter

• Cashew butter

• Pumpkin seed butter

• Macadamia butter

• Tahini

• Hazelnut butter

• Coconut butter

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