Almond butter, properties and uses

Almond butter is a creamy compound made from the almond seeds of the Prunus amygdalus plant . Its preparation is very similar to the more common and known peanut butter.

Almond butter starts its production from ingredients such as fresh natural almonds or from dry, heated and toasted almonds. Depending on which of the two origins of almonds we start the production we will obtain a compound with a more or less intense flavor.

Toasting will obviously give a stronger flavor while natural almonds will have a more delicate taste. The production of almond butter then begins with the shredding of the seeds with an electronic grinder that will reduce the seeds into flour.

The kneading tool and the strength of the blender will allow the almond oil to come out of the seed. When this happens the mixture becomes creamy and the kneading will continue for up to 60 minutes. At the end we will have obtained a transformation from almond seeds to a homogeneous and spreadable compound which is precisely called almond butter .

Almond butter has a pleasantly sweet taste and a color from yellow to light brown. Additives, thickeners, dyes or preservatives are not added to this vegetable butter, also because the presence of oil in the seeds naturally allows the preservation of the product.

Almond butter can thus be stored in a cool, dry place or placed in the refrigerator.

Properties of almond butter

Almond butter contains a large part of monounsaturated fatty acids which are the good and natural fats our body needs to maintain healthy cell membranes and for all those functions where lipids are needed such as hormonal regulation and cardiovascular system.

It is also a good source of mineral salts including calcium, iron, potassium, phosphorus, copper, manganese. This composition makes it therefore suitable as a remineralizer, excellent for the diet of children, the elderly and sportsmen .

Iron and calcium deficiency are among the most frequent situations when people have an unbalanced diet and this almond butter can therefore be a good food to supplement these precious elements .

Calcium as we know serves for the structure of the skeletal system, for the well-being of the teeth and nails as well as is necessary for the contractile capacity of the muscles including that of the heart and for the correct transmission of the nervous impulse .

Instead , iron is necessary for the formation of two proteins. One is hemoglobin which is used to transport oxygen and is contained in red blood cells, the other is myoglobin, which is the protein necessary to fix oxygen in our blood. muscles.

Finally, iron serves to make numerous other proteins and enzymes essential for the well-being of the body work.

Vitamins too are abundant and in particular those of group B with Riboflavin (B2) and vitamin E in the first place. Vitamin E is essential for the well-being of the skin and is in fact an excellent moisturizer as well as having the ability to counteract stretch marks and reduce wrinkles.

Vitamin E is an excellent antioxidant and therefore fights free radicals responsible for cellular aging and even helps improve the immune system .

Finally it is a source of fibers that help the intestine and amino acids that are used for various purposes including protein formation .

Uses of almond butter

Almond butter is extremely versatile and is a sought-after product especially for those who choose a vegan or healthy diet.

In fact , almond butter can replace the classic cow's milk butter and for this reason at health level we benefit more because the fat content is all good and vegetable and does not contain cholesterol.

Almond butter can be used in sweet recipes or for savory dishes .

The simplest use is spread on bread or rusks but also added to any pastry recipe such as muffins, cakes, croissants and various creams. For biscuits almond butter is very suitable and gives a touch of truly unique refinement.

It can even be used as an ingredient in centrifuges and fruit or vegetable shakes . Finally it is used for savory recipes in the same way as butter and can give the dishes a particular unusual and refined taste.

For those with intolerances or allergies

Almond butter is also used by those with intolerances or allergies to milk and its derivatives: butter, yogurt and cheese. This almond butter is a product very similar to cow's milk butter but without the risk of running into problems with lactose or casein .

Furthermore, almond butter can be a valid substitute also for peanut butter which for some people is highly allergenic . Almond butter contains more fiber and more minerals such as potassium, iron, calcium and manganese compared to peanut butter.

The percentage of fat is also different and in almond butter we have a slight amount more lipids than peanuts.

Cosmetic use

Almond butter is also an excellent ingredient for cosmetic beauty products . In fact this vegetable butter nourishes and makes the skin more beautiful .

Its main action is to deeply moisturize the skin tissue and it also manages to make the skin smoother with less cracking.

Excellent emollient, velvety and anti-stretch marks, it becomes indicated even during pregnancy to make the skin more elastic.

Almond butter is also used as a massage butter thanks to its pleasant aroma. The advantage of this butter used on the skin is that it does not grease and penetrates deep into the skin, restoring it and nourishing it from the inside .

Finally, it is a 100% natural and vegetable product that makes it safe also due to the absence of any other supplements such as preservatives, dyes or additives.