Raw Almond Butter

Raw almond butter has recently become popular after experts realized the nutritional value of the butter. The vitamin E and the unsaturated fats in almond butter, makes it an ideal choice over all the other butters. People have also realized the health benefits of this butter after consuming it, and since then there has been a significant increase in the consumption of this butter. The health benefits and the fact that this butter is easily available and can be easily made at home too, has also made this butter popular.

Nutritional Value of Raw Almond Butter
One cup of raw almond butter, generally contains about 1600 calories. Almonds are rich in fats, hence the calories in this one cup of butter are about 1300. This butter is a very rich source of vitamin E. This butter is very rich in fats and some amount of carbohydrates. It contains a good amount of calcium, potassium, magnesium and iron too. Next in line, are the proteins. If no salt is added to the butter, then the sodium content of this butter is also low. A healthy dose of dietary fiber is also obtained from eating raw almond butter. However, due to the high fat content, it is recommended that people go easy on it.

Benefits of Raw Almond Butter
The fats that raw almond butter contains are monounsaturated fats. These fats help in reducing the LDL cholesterol levels in the body, when taken in small amounts, thereby reducing the chances of heart diseases. The vitamin E in almonds possess antioxidant properties which also help in reducing the cholesterol levels in a person. The high content of minerals like magnesium help in keeping the blood veins and arteries clean and free from blocks, thereby reducing any related health problems. The nutrients in this butter have an anti-inflammatory effect on the body, thus keeping the body safe from diseases. This butter also has anti-aging properties. Lastly, eating it will keep the blood sugar in check.

The ingredients for this butter are two cups of long sweet almonds, some coconut oil or almond oil and some brown sugar. The first thing you do is blanch the almonds by adding some boiling water to the almonds and soaking the almonds in the water for about a minute or two. Drain the water and the skin of the almonds will come off in a jiffy. This process may be a little time-consuming. Next, comes the process of putting the almonds in a food processor. Start grinding the almonds in a good food processor at the highest speed. This process will take a lot of time, so ensure that you turn off the blender every 3 minutes or so to allow the blender to cool down. Continue grinding the almonds for about 12 to 15 minutes. Here, some people add salt to the almonds. Nutrition experts, however, do not recommend adding salt. As almonds contain oil, grinding them will start releasing this oil. However, this oil will not be enough to make the butter, buttery. Thus, add little coconut or almond or any plant oil while grinding till you reach the desired consistency. As almonds are sweet, you may not need any sweetener. But if you must add something to sweeten it, then I would suggest adding brown sugar or honey. This too, needs to be added during the grinding process. Once the desired consistency has been reached, transfer the butter from the blender to a jar and store it at room temperature. The butter should remain fresh roughly for 3 to 4 weeks, after which you will need to store the jar in the refrigerator to retain the freshness. As you can see making almond butter is easy and a hassle free job.

Organic Raw Almond Butter
Many manufacturers claim that the butter that they sell is 100 percent organic. But, is it really organic, is the question here. When we talk about organic raw almond butter, what we mean is that the almonds that are used to make the butter should be grown organically, without using any chemicals and pesticides. Also, the almonds should not be genetically modified. However, as it is difficult to ascertain their claims, it is best if you make this butter at home using organic almonds.

Ensure that you include this healthy butter in your diet and gain all the health benefits that this butter has to offer. However, do not exceed the consumption, as obviously, too much of anything is not good.