Hello my dear readers, peanut butter has always been the popular sandwich spread, but recently almond butter has emerged as the healthier alternative to use in your diet. What is almond butter? It’s just almonds, blended in a food processor. Add a little honey and sea salt for taste and you have a spoonful of heaven, that’s also really good for you!
In my opinion, the greatest reason to love almond butter is the way it makes your taste buds feel! You can make it as creamy or crunchy as you like, but regardless of texture, it is absolutely delicious. Brush it on carrot or apple slices, spread it on whole-wheat toast, or just pop a spoonful into your mouth.
Among nuts, almonds are the most nutritionally dense. This means that for every calorie you consume, you get more vitamins and minerals than from any other nut. Move over, peanut butter! One tablespoon of almond butter contains as much protein as you get from the same quantity of meat. It is also an excellent source of fiber, which helps digestion and nourishes tissues. Here are some other benefits to almond butter over peanut butter:
1. Good for the Heart: The number one health benefit of almond butter is that it is good for the heart. It is rich in monounsaturated fats, which are the type of fats that reduce levels of cholesterol and decrease the risk of heart ailments. Dipping your biscuit in almond butter or spreading it on top of your bread certainly gives your heart a healthy boost.
2. Lower Blood Pressure
Almond butter is also known for lowering blood pressure because it can decrease cholesterol levels. When cholesterol accumulates in the blood vessels of the body, it makes it difficult for blood to flow more freely to different organs. When this happens, the heart will pump more strongly and this can result in high blood pressure. Lowering the cholesterol will also lower blood pressure. Apart from that, almond butter also contains minerals that are effective in reducing blood pressure. These minerals are calcium, potassium, and magnesium, which work hand in hand to decrease the pressure and resistance in the blood vessels to maintain the proper level of blood pressure.
3. Help With Weight Control: There is a common misconception about nuts and weight gain. Since nuts, such as almonds, are high in calories, many people who are on a weight loss program tend to avoid eating them. However, you should know that almonds are high in protein, fiber, and monounsaturated fats. They’re also incredibly delicious! People who eat nuts are less likely to become overweight than those who avoid them.
4. Vitamin E: Almond butter has a nutritional advantage over peanut butter due to its vitamin E content. You use vitamin E to protect your cells from oxidative damage. As an antioxidant, vitamin E can neutralize free radicals, preventing these harmful chemicals from oxidizing your DNA and proteins, which damages your cells. Almond butter contains approximately 4 milligrams of vitamin E per tablespoon — about 27 percent of your daily vitamin E requirements, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. Peanut butter contains just 1 milligram of vitamin E per 1-tablespoon serving. Just one teaspoon of almond butter contains more than 25% of your daily requirement of Vitamin E, which protects you from oxidative damage.
5. Magnesium: Switching from peanut butter to almond butter can also help you boost your magnesium intake. A tablespoon of almond butter contains 45 milligrams of magnesium — 11 percent of the magnesium requirements for men and 14 percent for women, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements. An equivalent serving of peanut butter contains just 26 milligrams. Magnesium contributes to the function of your nervous system, facilitates muscle contraction, makes up a component of healthy bone tissue and helps support your metabolism.
6. Iron: Opting for almond butter over peanut butter also proves advantageous due to almond butter’s higher iron content. Iron promotes healthy oxygen transport — it helps you make hemoglobin and myoglobin, two proteins that oxygenate your tissues. Like vitamin E, iron protects your cells from oxidative damage by helping to activate antioxidant enzymes in your cells. A tablespoon of almond butter contains 0.6 milligrams of iron, compared to 0.3 milligrams in a tablespoon of peanut butter. Each tablespoon of almond butter provides 8 percent of the daily iron requirements for men, according to the Linus Pauling Institute, and 3 percent for women.
Related articles across the web
