When I Say "Peanut," You Say "Butter"
"Jelly" is also an acceptable response.
Howdy! It’s Joey, back with more Fun Fact Friyay. I bet this fact might stick with you.
The fear of having peanut butter stick to the roof of your mouth is called Arachibutyrophobia.
September 13 is a jam-packed day. This year, it’s Friday the 13th, so I hope you’re wearing spooky clothes in celebration. Today is also Roald Dahl Day, Bald is Beautiful Day, and National Hug Your Boss Day.
All are worthy of celebrating, but only one is getting a fun fact about it: National Peanut Day.
There are many interesting tidbits about the legume. For instance, a 12-ounce jar of peanut butter contains more than 500 peanuts, and former U.S. Presidents Thomas Jefferson and Jimmy Carter were both peanut farmers, even though Carter took office 168 years after Jefferson left it.
Peanuts are also one of the most common foods a person can have an allergic reaction to—just look at that one episode of Freaks and Geeks.
That allergy might be the trigger of arachibutyrophobia, at least for some folks. Others may have gone through a tough peanut butter experience as a kid or perhaps just saw something on TV (like that Freaks and Geeks episode) that featured someone choking on peanuts or struggling with peanut butter.
Whatever the case, people who experience arachibutyrophobia might notice a quickened pulse, sweating, and trouble breathing, as well as feeling dizzy or nauseous when they’re around peanut butter. They might even try avoiding the food entirely.
I am very grateful I do not have arachibutyrophobia because peanut butter is delicious. I recently made some PB cookies at home, in fact! Alas, I can’t share any, because they’ve already been devoured by me.
I hope you do not have arachibutyrophobia, either. There are enough things in life that get us down. If you do have a peanut allergy or otherwise dislike peanuts, I will leave you with a compilation of perhaps my favorite running gag in BoJack Horseman, which often features the character Mister Peanutbutter.
Now that’s some positive thinking—and wouldn’t you know it, September 13 is also Positive Thinking Day.