Do you recently feel like you’re going nuts over the calories and fat content of regular butter sitting in your fridge? It might be helpful to take a step back, stroll further down your local grocery’s butter aisle and pick up some nut butter instead.
We all know nuts are great. They’re not just good as snacks, but they pack serious amounts of nutrients and healthy fat – the kind you need, not the kind you get from excess calories in typical butter. To back that up, we know that studies have proved nuts help improve cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of some types of cancer. And if you’re thinking of picking up just your regular jar of peanut butter, you might want to explore new and exciting nutty creations and discover a whole new range of benefits other types of nut butter can give you. Here are five new ways you can enjoy some nutty goodness:
The Coconut is a Giant Nut of Energy
Coconut butter is a sweet and creamy concoction of – yes, you guessed it – coconuts and peanut blended together by honey. It’s not just a good alternative to peanut butter if you’re trying to switch up your breakfast toast game, it also helps deliver energy to your body fast and speeds up your metabolism to help you shed off the pounds easier. The honey and peanuts also pack lots of energy and essential vitamins and nutrients. Start your mornings with coconut butter on your toast and feel a surge of energy that powers your mornings.
Cash in Restful Energy with Cashews
Cashews are definitely nutty superheroes. According to a study at Harvard Medical School, any form of this nut positively benefits your diet by protecting your heart from various cardiovascular ailments. Cashews are low in sugar while being high in protein and are a great source of unsaturated fats, iron and magnesium. These two minerals help reduce fatigue we feel from our daily activities and support energy-yielding metabolism. Cashew butter’s smooth and creamy goodness is a great alternative to peanut or even plain butter.
Come and Go with PBB
Not enough time to fix yourself a nice, nutty snack? Try PBB on the go. Essentially powdered peanuts pressed enough to get rid of excess oil and fats, this can be used to fix yourself a smoothie and recharge on the go. It even has 70 per cent fewer calories and fats than your go-to peanut butter spread in the grocery. High in protein, it’s definitely going to help curb hunger pangs as you’re more likely to feel satisfied longer. Take it to the gym or out on the trail when you work out, as its rich potassium levels help you recover better post exercise.
Don’t Miss Out on the Fun with Sunflower Seeds
Many people allergic to nuts have been missing out on a lot. But worry no more, sunflower seeds are here as perfect lifestyle substitutes to nutty goodness you may have been missing out on. This spread has great amounts of Selenium and vitamins B1, B6 and E that have anti-stress and anxiety-lowering effects. Health buffs will also take delight in it being wheat-, dairy- and gluten-free. Sunflower seeds help our bodies achieve normal energy metabolism as it packs and combines healthy fats, magnesium, protein and vitamin B6. All this nutty goodness without the nuts!
Go Nuts over Nut Butter
Whether you’re snacking right off the jar or spreading it on bread or crackers, nut butter definitely is irresistibly good. They now even come in life- and diet-saving portion-controlled sachets you can eat outright, squeeze onto an oatcake or top your morning porridge with. Made from super nuts almonds, nut butter works wonders in keeping you satisfied, with participants in the Institute of Food Technologists’ study reporting less hunger cravings and even eating less at lunch and dinner. Harju also talked about almonds’ nutritional powers, packing rich levels of calcium, iron, omega 3-fatty acids, niacin, folate and vitamin E that speed up metabolism, making almonds the most nutritionally-dense nuts. No wonder more and more people are going nuts over nut butter!
Now, we won’t just have to enjoy popping plain nuts as snacks. Whether it’s right from the jar or spread on toast or your morning oats, we’re definitely looking forward to being nuts when starting the day with or snacking on nut butter’s divine, creamy goodness and life-saving nutritional prowess. Hands down, this sure is the best way to go nuts!