Photo courtesy of http://www.domestifluff.com
Nut butter, whether it be almond, hazelnut, cashew, or peanut are a staple go to source of quick protein for veggies and health nuts (no pun intended), like myself. But these nut butters are not created equal.
The two most common- peanut and almond butter are worlds apart in terms of health benefit and nutritional value. I’ll just go right and state right here- I will not eat peanut butter. First off- peanuts are not actually a nut at all. They’re a legume like a bean or a chickpea but no- this is not the problem with peanuts.
Peanuts are one of the most heavily pesticide ridden crops. They are also most often moldy. Moldy! Who wants to eat that? Worst of all is that in this common moldy state they contain a carcinogenic toxin (that means cancer causing) called aflatoxins. Peanuts are among the foods most often implicated as triggering allergic reactions. This much we all know but we don’t know why. Could it be that it is because of this high toxic load from all the pesticides or could it be the magical ability that peanuts have to absorb toxic waste and heavy metals from the soil they are grown in. Farmers will actually plant peanuts between crop rotations as a means to cleanse the soil. Perhaps this could be one of the contributing factors leading so many kids to have life threatening reactions to a mere crumb of a peanut. Scaaaaaary.
Now I know many of us health nuts, if we were eating peanut butter, would get organic, which would at least reduce the amount of pesticides and would not contain all the sugar, emulsifiers and hydrogenated oils of conventional peanut butter. But even organic peanuts can have the mold factor which is not cool if you suffer from any kind of inflammatory, fungal or yeast related health condition like candida, or general allergies.
Give almond butter a go. Or even better is the hazelnut almond butter blend. Eat as you would peanut butter- on fruit, in a smoothie, with chocolate (the best!), on toast drizzled with honey and cinnamon, or right off the spoon. All of the above happen in my kitchen regularly.
What is your favoruite way to indulge in this wholesome, calcium, protein, fibre rich snack?
Here are a few of my almond and almond butter containing recipes:
- Almond Milk
- Almond Bread
- Cilantro Pesto
- Pomegranate and Green Bean Quinoa Salad
- Ultimate Healthy Cookie
- Walnut and Cocoa Truffles
- Really Real Fast Food
- Banana Coconut Almond Heaven
- Super Powered Breakfast Smoothie
And what are you doing April 19th? Green Smoothie Cleansing? Details to follow shortly!
Great post! I also love pumpkin seed and sunflower seed butters – high in vit E and Iron and yummy! It is very scary how toxic peanuts are to humans. In the U.S., many farmers actually use old tobacco farm fields to grow peanuts now. Giving even MORE reason NOT to eat peanut butter because tobacco is extremely moldy and highly sprayed with the most toxic pesticides. Disgusting!!
I am such a big almond butter fan, but recently discovered cashew butter and love it!
Thanks for the peanut insight…
Worth checking out ‘Amlou’ from Morocco, mostly used for dipping with bread, but the Argan oil and roasted nutty paste is mega-versatile in cooking, especially when you let it settle & separate.
My favourite? Finger in the peanut butter jar, I’m afraid. It’s a regression back to childhood thing.
xx
S
I’m learning so much from you! Thank you dear for a great informative post!
Once again Meghan- you and I are so alike.
I don’t eat peanut butter for the same reason! Almond butter is my number 1, I like sunflower seed butter when I want something less sweet than almond and walnut and pumpkin are yum yum too.
Do you make your own? I have made my own in my Vitamix and my food processor. What about you?
I usually make my own almond butter, so I can combine the almonds with other nuts I like–hazelnuts, as you mention, or walnuts or cashews. I love it spread on plain rice cakes with a drizzle of blackstrap molasses on top!
Hi! My name is Pearl and I came across your blog from someone else’s; I had to comment because the nut butter is so.. soo cool. I have a Vitamix, too, and have always wanted to try to make almond butter, since my family is a big big fan!
May I add you to my blogroll?
Great post. I’ve heard much of that about peanut butter. I just desperately wish almond butter were slightly more affordable around here.
http://theidleloaf.wordpress.com
Wow, I didn’t know that peanut butter had carcinogens. I’ve been having so much trouble finding anything other than peanut butter at most grocery stores, I guess I would have to go to a specialty food store or something? I’ll have to look into it.
Thanks for the info!
Well I’m happy to say that months back we gave up consuming what I had once thought of as my favorite peanut butter = Jiff. Didn’t take me long after trying that first bite of organic peanut butter did I realize how sugar loaded among other ingredients that Jiff actually was. We haven’t turned back since.
Now you have me convinced to give that Almond Butter sitting in my fridge another try. I guess it probably is feeling a little neglected in there. lol.
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Thanks Joy! Yes- I too am a big fan of the sunflower and pumpkin (especially with a little honey)… but nothing beats almond butter for me.
I do usually make my own in the vita mix- and I add a little coconut oil to the mix and sometimes goji berries, but I can never get it as creamy as the kidn you buy.
Pearl- of course you may. I did do a video of making almond butter in the vita mix but it was so ridiculously easy that I thought the video was pointless. Throw in some raw almond (soaked, toasted or plain as you like it), add a little almond or walnut oil, a dash of salt and blend away!