Why Almond Butter... page

[Waskydiver]

I was at the store yesterday, and figured that I would maybe see if I could switch my son over to Almond Butter instead of Peanut Butter.

OK... it's more expensive... I can deal with that... but let's see what I am getting. I was a little surprised that the label did not reveal any large nutritionall advantage to the Almond Butter over Peanut. From memory:

Almond butter is higher in calories, slightly higher in carbs, lower in fiber, lower in protien.

I did like the fat content, and it's makeup (Saturated/Poly/Mono) better in the almond butter over the peanut butter, but that didn't really tip the scale when considering the other macros.

What am I missing?

[Balance]

Peanut butter is a legume not a true nut butter. Legumes are things that most paleo folks try to avoid. Peanut butter has more allergic and anti-nutrient properties. Almonds are pretty much harmless but in excess they will throw off your n3:n6 ratio.

[yodiewan]

Personally, I don't think you're missing much. Yeah, peanuts are a legume and therefore technically not primal, but so are green beans, and they're pretty widely accepted. Also peanuts get a bad rap for being potentially contaminated with alfatxoin, but I'm pretty sure this applies to other foods too. I eat small amounts of peanut butter every now and then and don't feel any more guilty about it than I do when eating any "true" nuts. I try to limit them all since they are so high in PUFA.

[Midlyfechrysalis]

Almond butter is nutrionally superior.

When my kids were little (and I had a real say in their diets lol), I used almond butter.

Nutritional Comparison of Peanut Butter and Almond Butter

[PaleoCurious]

WHat they said....

But it does not taste like peanut butter and takes some getting used to. It is good in it's own way.

[Alan M]

If you look up the omega-6 level in peanuts you'll find it's an order of magnitude greater than everything else. If you care about keeping your O6 to O3 ratio in check, avoid peanuts.

[belinda]

Because it's tasty!

[ProtoAlex]

Take the almond butter, mix some palm shortening in along with a heavy dosage of cinnamon. Eat with dark chocolate. I... am terribly sorry for the inevitable addiction that follows.

[tarek]

Barring any allergy you might have, there is no real reason to avoid peanut butter and buy almond butter if you prefer the former. All nuts, seeds, and legumes are suboptimal foods, so eat whichever one you enjoy the most and limit your consumption of it.

[bokbadok]

Personally, I don't think you're missing much. Yeah, peanuts are a legume and therefore technically not primal, but so are green beans, and they're pretty widely accepted. Also peanuts get a bad rap for being potentially contaminated with alfatxoin, but I'm pretty sure this applies to other foods too. I eat small amounts of peanut butter every now and then and don't feel any more guilty about it than I do when eating any "true" nuts. I try to limit them all since they are so high in PUFA.

I agree with this. Unless the OP notices an increase in inflammation after eating PB, or eats it in large amounts... I don't think it's that big of a deal. :shrug: