Almond butter is a natural food that provides our bodies with essential nutrients. In addition to being a good source of fiber as well as monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, almond butter also provides calcium, iron, magnesium, riboflavin(vitamin B), vitamin E, and zinc.
Almond butter can be used as a spread on toast or crackers for breakfast or lunch or it can be eaten by a spoonful as a quick energy-boosting snack.
People have been using almonds for their health benefits since biblical times. The Greeks and Romans grew almonds in herb gardens next to their fig and olive trees. These cultures believed almonds had the power of fertility and considered them sacred foods that would bless them with good health.
Today, research has discovered that consuming almonds helps lower cholesterol levels and reduces the risk of heart disease.
Almond butter has also been known to protect against cancer, control blood sugar levels(diabetes), promote healthy hair and skin, enhance weight loss, strengthen bones and teeth, reduce asthma symptoms, improve digestive health, combat Alzheimer's disease and boost brain function.
What is Almond Butter?
Almond butter is a creamy, smooth paste made of ground almonds. It has the consistency of peanut butter but with a sweeter taste.
Almonds are covered by a hard shell that has to be removed before they can be ground into almond butter. This long process ensures the final product is extra creamy and delicious!
Types of Almond Butter
There are two main types of almond butter that you can purchase at the store.
Crunchy Almond Butter:
This type of almond butter usually has a coarser texture than regular almond butter, making it ideal for cooking and baking.
Creamy Almond Butter:
This variety of almond butter is smoother in texture than crunchy; perfect for spreads on toast or crackers.
Another popular type of almond butter is chocolate almond butter, which is made by grounding the cocoa nibs or cocoa beans with almonds.
Health benefits of Almond Butter
Almond butter has many health benefits for your body. Here are just a few reasons to eat this tasty treat:
Increases energy levels in the body
Consuming almond butter gives your body a boost of monounsaturated fatty acids.
Monounsaturated fatty acids improve blood flow throughout the body, allowing for more oxygen and nutrients to be delivered to the brain and muscles.
Therefore, eating a spoonful of almond butter before a workout or doing some pushups can give you a temporary energy boost!
Another way that almonds increase the amount of energy in your body is through their high magnesium content. Magnesium helps your body turn glucose(carbohydrates) into fuel which provides you with lasting energy.
In fact, research shows that eating foods rich in magnesium may be beneficial for relieving fatigue.
The protein and fatty acids found in almond butter help create energy(ATP) within our cells. Almond butter is also high in riboflavin which helps with energy production.
Strengthens bones and teeth
Almonds are high in calcium which is essential for keeping our bones strong. Calcium also helps keep the muscles functioning properly and prevents them from cramping up.
The vitamin D found in almond butter provides additional support for our bones because it helps the body absorb calcium more efficiently.
Studies show that people who eat foods with vitamin D have significantly higher bone densities than those who don't.
Vitamin E, another nutrient found in almonds, reduces inflammation throughout the body including any swelling or pain in the joints.
For this reason, it's commonly used by athletes who experience muscle fatigue during their workouts to improve recovery time afterward.
Improves heart health
Almonds are packed with potassium, magnesium, fiber, calcium, and vitamin E which help keep the cardiovascular system functioning properly.
The unsaturated fats in almond butter can reduce levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or the "lousy" cholesterol responsible for blocking arteries that cause cardiovascular disease.
According to research, people who follow healthy diets rich in monounsaturated fat like almonds have been shown to have healthier hearts.
A Harvard University study also discovered that people who consumed nuts several times each week lowered their risk of developing heart disease by 20%.
Enhances weight loss efforts
Almonds are nutrient-dense which means they're very filling, preventing you from overeating.
The dietary fiber found in almonds helps slow down the digestion process so your body can absorb all of the nutrients.
This will prevent you from feeling hungry before your next meal and it may also lower cholesterol levels.
Studies have shown that people who eat almonds on a regular basis while following an effective high-protein diet lose more weight than those who don't.
A serving of 6 almonds and almond butter contains around 6 grams of protein; therefore if you eat small portions of almond butter throughout the day or mix some into your smoothie, you'll get enough protein to keep hunger at bay!
Promotes healthy hair & skin
The omega- 3 fatty acids found in almond butter are powerful for keeping skin looking healthy and beautiful.
These essential fats have been proven to reduce the risk of psoriasis, eczema, dandruff, and other scaly or flaky skin conditions.
Omega-3s also help increase the elasticity of the skin which helps prevent wrinkles.
Nutrients like vitamin E can even out your skin tone by reducing redness caused by acne scars or irritation from other skin conditions.
For this reason, many people who suffer from acne eat foods that are high in vitamin E because it improves their complexion and is anti-inflammatory.
Finally, almond butter contains copper which reduces hair damage such as split ends or breakage so you can grow healthier and longer hair.
Almond Butter has anti-inflammatory properties
Almond butter is naturally anti-inflammatory which means it reduces the redness and swelling associated with acne.
Additionally, inflammation in your digestive tract can cause discomfort like bloating or heartburn.
This is why some people turn to gluten-free foods like almond butter instead of relying on drugs because its omega-3 fatty acids reduce intestinal inflammation, making you feel better!
Almonds are also high in magnesium which has been shown to reduce symptoms like diarrhea, bloating, and cramping that can result from inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease.
Good source of vitamins and minerals
Almond butter contains several vitamins and minerals which means it can lower your risk of developing certain health conditions.
Iron is essential to making hemoglobin, the protein responsible for carrying oxygen in your blood.
The vitamin E found in almonds can boost immune activity so you're less likely to catch a cold or develop other illnesses.
As mentioned before, each serving of almond butter is rich in potassium that reduces high blood pressure by balancing out sodium levels, improving cardiovascular function.
Finally, magnesium is vital for maintaining healthy bones because it prevents bone loss during menopause.
Low in sugar and has a high fiber content
Almonds are low in sugar compared to other nuts so they won't cause your blood sugar levels to spike after eating them.
Additionally, almonds are rich in dietary fiber which can prevent you from feeling hungry before your next meal.
Unlike carbohydrates, the body doesn't store fiber so you don't have to worry about consuming too many calories while increasing your daily intake of healthier foods like almond butter.
Another benefit of eating high-fiber foods is that it increases satiety which means you'll feel fuller for longer periods of time.
Studies have shown people who eat diets high in fiber have less abdominal fat than those who don't because the nutrient supports regular metabolism and improves insulin secretion.
Homemade Almond Butter
One of the best things about almond butter is that you can make it at home with a food processor and a few ingredients.
First, toast almond slices in the oven for around ten minutes at 350 degrees. After cooling, put them in a food processor and blend until smooth.
Alternatively, you can roast almonds in the oven without oil or seasoning to decrease the caloric content but keep in mind that roasted almonds are more likely to burn so be sure to check on them periodically while cooking.
You'll know they're ready when they're slightly browned and fragrant.
Once cooked, transfer your roasted almonds into the food processor then add other ingredients like sugar or cocoa powder depending on what type of nut butter you want!
There you have it!
Almond Butter from BeeTee's Melt Chocolate.
BeeTee's Melt Chocolate is a bean-to-bar Indian artisan chocolatier. They take pride in using only the best ingredients to create India's favorite confections.
Their specialty is single-origin chocolate bars with traditional ingredients like Coconut Sugar or Palm Sugar. All the nut butters are made with 100% preservatives-free, emulsifiers-free, and hydrogenated oils-free. All the nut butter
BeeTee's Melt Chocolate makes all-natural ingredients in micro-batch with few ingredients. Almond nut butter is made with only 2 ingredients as Almond and Coconut sugar. Chocolate Almond nut butter is made with only 3 ingredients like Almond, Cocoa Nibs, and Coconut sugar.