A buttery world: Almond butter vs. Peanut butter

There are a lot of nut butter available these days. Originally it was always Peanut butter and jelly--now we make almond butter, cashew butter, walnut butter, coconut butter (not a nut but still a spreadable), and sesame butter (called Tahini and used to make hummus). How do we choose? It depends on what flavor you desire. Maybe it should depend on what health benefits you want to reap. 


Below is a comparison between the most popular two: ALMOND BUTTER vs  PEANUT BUTTER. And don't miss the super simple recipe at the bottom to make your own almond butter Fresh!


A lot of people have peanut allergies so the others are fabulous alternatives. Peanuts are in a lot of products so a person has to be careful. They also have  tendency to hold mold more than other nuts which may contribute to an intolerance or allergy. This is because peanuts are legumes located on the root of the plant whereas almonds are tree nuts. 
 Heath Benefits of Almond Butter:

• Almond is a rich source of calcium, magnesium and potassium. All these minerals combine with each other to decrease the resistance in blood vessels and therefore regular consumption of almond butter, through diet, in sufficient quantities helps to lower blood pressure levels.
• Almond butter also helps in weight control. Yes, although almond butter is rich in calories, studies have revealed that the high fiber, protein and monosaturated fat content in almonds actually result in a feeling of satiety!
• Including and consuming sufficient quantities of almond butter through the regular diet, helps control blood sugar levels. It actually works, by controlling the rise in insulin and blood sugar levels after a high carbohydrate treat!
• Almond butter is also known for its antioxidant qualities. It is a rich source of vitamin E and also consists compounds that prevent oxidative stress and help in maintaining a healthy heart by preventing LDL oxidation (LDL oxidation can lead to clogging of arteries). Read more on calories in almonds.

Health Benefits of Peanut Butter:

• Peanut butter is rich source of a flavonoid called reservatol. Reservatol helps in improving blood flow to the brain and therefore minimizes the chances of getting a stroke.
• Apart from prevention of stroke, peanut butter has also been found useful in fighting against colon cancer. In this regard, peanut butter is more beneficial to women than men.
• As with almond butter, peanut butter is also rich in its antioxidant content, which prevent oxidative damage due to free radicals. These radicals can pose a damage to DNA strands and in some cases lead to cancer.
• Peanut butter is also useful in maintaining a healthy heart and decreases the chances of heart diseases! This is possible on account of the monosaturated content present in it.

So, you've found out both the forms of nut butter are useful to our health and their benefits also resemble each other. Take a look at the chart below to compare their nutritional profiles

Almond Butter Vs Peanut Butter: Nutritional Value

The following table gives an idea of the nutritional value of 

1 tablespoon, almond butter as well as peanut butter.

How to make homemade almond butter: 

Ingredients

• 1 cup toasted almonds
• 2 teaspoons olive oil

Directions

1. Place the almonds in a food processor. Process on high until ground almonds begin to form a ball. Drizzle olive oil over almonds and continue to process, stopping occasionally to scrape sides of the bowl with a spatula as needed. Store in an airtight container.