Almond butter is a delicious way of getting all the nutrients and health benefits of almonds in a spreadable form. You can enjoy almond butter on your toast, on raw celery sticks, in baking or our almond butter Super Pop bars (which have around 29 almonds per bars). Almond butter benefits include:
1. Almond Butter Can Help Reduce Cravings
Almond butter is high in both fiber and monounsaturated fat, which makes it a low Glycemic Index (GI) food. It can also lower the GI of other foods such as white bread. Foods with a low glycemic index will digest and release sugar into your bloodstream more slowly than foods with a high glycemic index. If you have large and sudden increase in your blood sugar levels it can lead to food cravings and overeating after the peak has passed, so low GI foods such as almond butter can help you to control your cravings and lose more weight. Studies have also shown that including almonds in your diet can help you to lose weight, even if you’re consuming the same amount of calories without them.
2. Almond Butter Can Protect You from Sun Damage
Exposure to the sun can cause damage to your skin, eventually leading to wrinkles and discoloration as you age. Almonds are a rich source of vitamin E which has been shown to protect skin from sun damage. You can benefit from vitamin E’s protective effects by eating almond butter, or even by applying it to your skin as a face mask.
3. Almond Butter Can Protect You from Free Radicals
The large amounts of vitamin E in almonds may also help to prevent oxidative stress. Oxidative stress can produce free radicals which may damage cells and lead to wrinkles and fine lines, as well as heart disease, cancer and other diseases. Vitamin E may also be an antioxidant, which helps to remove free radicals after they have formed, although this has yet to be fully studied.
4. Almond Butter Can Renew Your Skin
A mask made from ground almonds can soften and smooth your skin. The oils in almonds are easily absorbed into the skin, and have a reputation for reducing fine lines and wrinkles, as well as soothing dry skin. Some say that almond butter can even help to reduce acne. If the almond butter is crunchy or chunky, it can also be an effective exfoliant, by removing dead skin cells and renewing your skin. Mix pure almond paste or butter with rose water or honey for best effect.
5. Almond Butter Can Condition Your Hair
You can also use almond butter as a hair treatment. Once again, use pure almond butter, and slather it on your hair after washing it. Wait for at least 15 to 20 minutes before washing it off. The natural oils in almond butter will leave your hair soft and shiny.
Almond butter will give you all the benefits of almonds, in an easily applied paste. Almond butter can help to improve and protect your skin, hair and waistline, and it also tastes delicious.