Calories in Almond Butter

Nut butters are gaining a lot of importance in providing complete nutrition in the daily diet. Nearly all of us are fond of peanut butter, which is popularly used as bread spread and in baking goodies. It is similar to almond butter in texture and taste. Nutrition wise, butter made from almonds is far better than peanut butter. It contains some of the most valuable nutrients and provides innumerable health benefits. But, learning about calories in almond butter does make sense to plan diet properly.

How many Calories in Almond Butter?

Almond butter retains the nutty flavor of almonds. Also, the nutrition facts and calories in plain almond butter are the same as that of almonds. It contains high amounts of essential fatty acids, so are the calories. Serving one tablespoon of almond butter yields an average of 101 calories, with an estimation of 85 calories from fats. Thus, out of 16 g almond butter, the weight of total fats is 8.5 g. Of these, the unhealthy saturated fats contribute less than 1 g, and remaining are polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats.

Speaking in terms of daily calorie requirement, serving two tablespoons of almond butter gives about 1/10th of the total calories for the standard 2000 calorie diet. Also, it is a reliable product for deriving essential fatty acids. There is no doubt in that. Even many dieters have opted for almond butter as a part of the weight loss program. But, as you have seen, the total calories in almond butter are very high. Hence, this nutty product should be added in specific quantities, taking into consideration the calorie value of other foods in the meal menu.

Almond Butter Benefits

Other than essential fatty acids, almond butter is a rich source of proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber. Similar to almonds, it aids in lowering cholesterol level, thereby reducing the risks of cardiovascular diseases. Adding almonds in the regular diet and reducing other fats are effective for lowering the level of bad cholesterol (LDL, low density cholesterol) by about 8 - 12 percent. Also, the benefit of almond butter in minimizing heart diseases is contributed by presence vitamin E in high amounts, which serves as a powerful antioxidant.

Essential minerals isolated from almond butter are magnesium, potassium, manganese, copper, zinc and calcium amongst others. Another health benefit of consuming this almond product is reducing postprandial blood sugar level. The impressive part with almond butter nutrition facts is, it contains no cholesterol, no sugar and is very low in sugar. While this may be a good reason to include almond butter and reap its health benefits, do not forget the high calorie count of this nut butter.

The actual calories in almond butter may vary slightly from one food nutrition data to another. Also, as compared to other commonly consumed nut butters, the calorie count of almond butter is relatively high. On the concluding note, almond butter can be added in the regular diet, provided that the amount of traditional fats is adjusted properly. In the market, the demand for almond butter is not as high as peanut butter. This may be mainly because of the high price tag that comes along with this nut butter.

While purchasing almond butter from the market, check the product label and avoid those that contain refined vegetable oils. A simple approach to enjoy this nutritious nut butter in baking cookies or as bread spread is preparing homemade almond butter. The preparation calls for grinding sweet almonds in a mixer, until the paste becomes smooth and creamy. Transfer this almond butter in an airtight jar and keep in the refrigerator.