Different type of nut butters are a great source of protein & fats & is an excellent way of regulating blood sugar & weight management. All nut butters are rich in antioxidants. The proportion of protein, fat & carb varies in nut butters.
Nut butters are not only delicious but it contains protein & healthy fats which our body digests slowly which means we end up staying satisfied for a longer period of time compared to consuming simple/fast digesting carbohydrates. They also contain essential vitamins & minerals in different quantities & proportions depending on the nut.
There are different ways you can consume these butter: You can mix in your smoothie/shakes to give it a great taste & healthy fats, add it in oatmeal, yoghurt & even can spread it on bread. For a quick & easy snack, you can even have fruits with any of nut butter.
No matter which nut you pick, make sure you choose natural & organic brands which are made up of just peanuts & salt. It should not have added sugar, hydrogenated oil or additives. Please read the food label before buying any of these nut butters. Watch your portion size since nut butters are both nutrient & calorie dense.
Here are different varieties of nut butters:
- Peanut Butter: Peanut butter is most widely used nut butter & have healthy source of fats & protein. When compared with almond butter, it is slightly low in fat & is least expensive. Many folks are concerned about carcinogens which are linked to cancer & are grown by fungus that often grow on peanut crops. Having said that peanut butters are said to be safe & healthy to consume.
- Almond butter: Almond butter is said to less in protein & high in fat when compared to its cheaper alternative, peanut butter. It also contains calcium & iron which are an essential part of our diet. The taste is polarizing than peanut & hence it is not popular among masses. If you are following a paleo diet( check out our blog on Paleo, almond butter( as well as cashew & walnut) are perfect food item to be included in your diet. Peanut is not paleo since it is technically legumes.
- Cashew Butter: This form of butter is much lower in protein than other peanut butter so consider it as a light snack not a post workout food. It is rich in magnesium & iron. Cashews are sweeter than other nuts so it is easier to find cashew butter with no sugar added.
- Walnut butter: Walnut butter is rare. It is lower in protein compared to peanut & almond butters however are rich in omega-3 & antioxidants called polyphenols.
Key Takeaway
All nuts & therefore nut butters are rich in antioxidants which fight with radicals in body to prevent influx of any disease. They are also considered to be a great food for weight management & lowering cholesterol levels. So select nut butter based on your taste & nutritional requirements.
