Did you know that almonds are the most widely consumed tree nut in the world?
Sure, peanuts are great (and popular) too. But if you're looking to switch up that boring old PB&J sandwich, why not try natural almond butter instead?
It's delicious. It's nutritious. It's allowed on keto, paleo, Whole30, and other diets that are popular today. In fact, we can't think of a single reason why you shouldn't have a jar of almond butter in your pantry.
Read on for a crash course in all things almond butter!
Is Almond Butter Healthy?
You might hear the word "butter" and automatically think "unhealthy" or "fattening."
Cast those fears aside, because almond butter is here to do amazing things for your body. We'll dive into specifics a bit later, but here's a quick glance at the benefits of almonds:
- High in healthy fats
- Loaded with vitamins and minerals
- Great source of fibre
- High in protein
- Low in sugar
Like other types of nut butter, almond butter does cram a lot of calories into a small package. At around 100 calories per tablespoon, you'll want to resist the urge to spread half a jar on your morning toast.
In reasonable amounts, though, almond butter is a tasty and exceptionally healthy addition to your daily diet.
Experts reckon it's even (a little bit) healthier than your average peanut butter. It's also easy to swap out peanut butter for almond butter in your favourite recipes.
Almond Butter Benefits
So, now that we've established that almond butter is good for you, let's take a look at some specific almond butter benefits for your health.
1. High in Antioxidants
Almonds (and therefore almond butter) are loaded with healthful antioxidants. These microscopic nutrients help to protect your cells from oxidative damage, which is a major contributor to disease and ageing.
Antioxidants give your body the fuel it needs to naturally combat inflammation and the effects of ageing. The largest concentration of antioxidants is in the outer brown layer of the almond's skin. For the most health benefits, eat unblenched almonds or make your almond butter with whole almonds.
Is there any science to back up these statements? Absolutely!
One study found that eating 85 grams of almonds a day reduced oxidative stress biomarkers by up to 34%. A similar study found that antioxidants in almonds reduce the risk of developing diabetes or heart disease.
2. The World's Best Source of Vitamin E
Want younger-looking, naturally radiant skin? Almond butter's mega-supply of Vitamin E could be your ticket to the healthy complexion you've always wanted.
Raw almonds are an excellent source of Vitamin E, but almond butter delivers an even more powerful punch per serving. 30 grams of almond butter gives you almost half your daily recommended intake of Vitamin E.
Vitamin E protects your skin from the free radicals that cause cancer, as well as harmful UV radiation. It also promotes wound healing and can relieve the symptoms of psoriasis, dermatitis, and other skin disorders.
3. May Lower Your Cholesterol
Eating a few spoonful's of almond butter every day can lead to reductions in LDL (the "bad" cholesterol) and potentially reduce your risk of heart disease.
One study found that a diet providing 20% of calorie intake from almonds lowered bad cholesterol levels 12.4 mg/dL in people with prediabetes. A similar study cited the same results and also noted reduced belly fat—another important step in maintaining your good health!
Still want more evidence? Even casual snacking on almonds or almond butter can reduce your overall LDL levels by as much as 14%. We'll snack to that!
4. Helps Maintain a Healthy Weight
One of the biggest struggles many of us have with traditional diets is always feeling hungry.
Almond butter solves this problem by making us feel fuller longer. Since it's loaded with both protein and carbs, it satisfies our urge to eat while supplying our body with the fuel it needs to thrive.
Participants in a recent study reported a significant decrease in appetite while consuming 40 grams of almonds daily. A similar study found that overweight women who ate nuts lost more weight and inches than women on a nut-free diet.
5. Naturally Regulates Your Blood Sugar
We're all interested in lowering our sugar intake these days.
The great thing about nuts is they supply plenty of protein, fibre, and fats without the high sugar content in other food sources. Almond butter is remarkably high in magnesium, which plays an important role in blood sugar regulation.
This is great news for diabetics. But even people without diabetes can benefit from the improved insulin function that comes from eating almonds.
6. Keeps Your Gut Healthy
If you want more reasons to open that jar of almond butter, here's a final one. Doing so can promote gut health by increasing the amount of good bacteria in your gastrointestinal tract.
Almonds contain high amounts of fibre and prebiotics, which promote a healthy balance inside your gut. This improves overall gut function while reducing inflammation throughout your digestive tract.
Bonus: It tastes great too!
Feeling Hungry? Grab Some Almond Butter!
Has all this talk of almond butter made your stomach growl?
We can't say we blame you. Here at 99th Monkey, we're hungry all day long too. Lucky for us, we're surrounded by plenty of delicious and nutritious ways to satisfy our hunger.
If you haven't yet discovered almond butter, why not give it a go? It's loaded with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. It can even help you manage your weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels.
Best of all—unlike a lot of other "healthy" foods—it tastes amazing. We're willing to bet it will become your new favourite snack food!
Our all-natural almond butter is available in every Coles supermarket in Victoria, Australia. For your convenience, you can also order it online through our website.
Click here to view our entire collection of tasty nut butter. Which one will you try first?
