Almond Butter Benefits: Good Source of Fiber, Better than Peanut Butter and Tasty

When it comes to your after school snacks, it is hard to pass up peanut butter and jelly. As it turns out, according to The National Peanut Butter Board, 90 percent of U.S. homes have peanut butter stocked on their shelves. But is peanut butter your best option?
Almond butter has been popularized lately on blogging and health websites.

The website Livestrong.com suggests, “Both peanut and almond butter are good sources of the heart-healthy monounsaturated fat. However, almond butter is a slightly better source, with 5 grams per tablespoon versus 3.3 grams-per-tablespoon in peanut butter. When part of a healthy diet, foods rich in monounsaturated fats may help lower blood cholesterol levels, according to the American Heart Association. They might also reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke.”

Almond butter also has fiber benefits.

On the Livestrong website, in an article called “The Benefits of Almond Butter vs. Peanut Butter,” it’s stated that “Like monounsaturated fat, almond butter is also a slightly better source of fiber than peanut butter. One tablespoon of almond butter contains 1.6 grams of fiber, while peanut butter has 0.9 grams. Most Americans don’t get enough fiber in their diet, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, so every little bit helps. Meeting your daily fiber needs, which ranges from 21 to 38 grams of fiber per day depending on your age and gender, might lower your risk of chronic diseases, such as heart disease, and make it easier for you to maintain a healthy weight.”

I gave three Arrowhead students almond butter. They were also given a small sample of peanut butter on a plain rice cake and a small sample of almond butter on a plain rice cake.

Maddie Kopecky, a senior, was a part of this survey. She said, “Wow! I had no idea how good almond butter tastes. I also can’t believe how much healthier almond butter is. I am totally going to try to make this at home now.”

Nic Alonge, a senior, disagreed with Kopecky. He said, “I think almond butter is an acquired taste. I do, however, think that it will catch on as people come to realize the health benefits of this over peanut butter.”

Almond butter tastes just as it sounds. It is made from straight almonds. Nothing is added to the butter.

Peanut butter is described as having a thicker taste than almond butter.

Niki Economou, senior, also participated in the survey. She said, “I am going to the store and getting almond butter right now and throwing the peanut butter out the second I get home.”

Almond butter can be purchased at most grocery stores for around $10 a jar. It is sold at Trader Joe’s, an organic grocery store, sells almond butter for $6.99 for a 16 ounce jar.