Almond Butter offers many health benefits and is better for us than most other common nut butters. Personally, I love it, and I usually buy it over peanut butter. You’re already familiar with almonds, which can be raw or toasted and are widely used in cooking. You can get them whole, slivered, as a paste, in a milk or as an oil, and they are commonly used in desserts such as cakes and cookies. So why should you seek out almonds and almond butter?
1. Vitamin E and Dietary Fibre
Almond Butter has a lot of vitamin E (26 mg per 100g). This vitamin is essential in the formation of muscles, red blood cells and tissues. It also prevents the oxidation of fats and vitamin A and can help delay coronary heart disease. Almond butter is an excellent source of dietary fibre, B vitamins, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and zinc. Dietary fibre helps reduce the appetite by making you feel full for longer and maintaining steady blood sugar levels by absorbing water during digestion, slowing the emptying of the stomach and delaying the absorption of glucose.
2. B Vitamins, Calcium and Magnesium
B vitamins are very helpful to the body. They help convert food into energy, assist in forming healthy red blood cells, reduce the risk of heart disease, reduce PMS symptoms and prevent anemia. The calcium is good for your bones, and iron carries oxygen to the blood cells. Magnesium may reverse osteoporosis. It also controls heart disease, reduces high blood pressure and treats migraines and depression.
3. Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc
Phosphorus is necessary for strong bones and teeth and healthy gums. It helps with growth and body repair, boosts heart health, and lowers the risk of cancer. Potassium is very important in preventing strokes, keeping blood sugar levels steady, preventing muscle cramps, aiding with memory and learning, balancing blood pressure and water levels, and acting as an electrolyte by regulating fluid levels in the body. Indeed, it is a great stress buster. Zinc also aids in muscle health and growth. It helps maintain strong, healthy bones and cells, keeps hair and nails healthy and is necessary for children to ensure proper growth.
In spite of their high-fat content, some medical studies show that using almonds as part of a daily diet may lower several risk factors associated with heart disease, including cholesterol and blood lipids. Despite the positive benefits of almond butter, they may cause an allergic reaction in some people. Symptoms can range from local (oral allergies) to systemic (anaphylaxis), so use caution and ensure you’re not allergic to nuts.
