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Beauty & Health Editor
Beauty & Health Editor
Hannah Frye is the Beauty & Health Editor at mindbodygreen. She has a B.S. in journalism and a minor in women’s, gender, and queer studies from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Hannah has written across lifestyle sections including beauty, women’s health, mental health, sustainability, social media trends, and more. She previously worked for Almost 30, a top-rated health and wellness podcast. In her current role, Hannah reports on the latest beauty trends and innovations, women’s health research, brain health news, and plenty more.
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August 12, 2024
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The days of a classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich are over, thanks to the evolution of nut butters over the past few years. Not only are we leaning in to alternative nut butters (think walnut or cashew), but additional fillers, emulsifiers, sugars, and partially hydrogenated vegetable oils are becoming less and less popular as well.
Which nut butter is the healthiest option?
Before we reveal which nut butter is best, allow us to offer a soft reminder that what you pair with the nut butter also plays a factor in the overall reward from your snack. Here are a few of our favorite ways to incorporate nut butter into your diet:
- Dip apple slices into the butter.
- Drizzle it over your oatmeal or acai bowl.
- Add a tablespoon to your smoothie.
- Fill a stalk of celery with the butter.
Now, as for which butter to choose? According to Rossi, “Try to get a diversity of nuts in your nut butter if possible.” That’s right—the best nut butter for your health, Rossi says, is actually a nut butter blend. This makes sense given that different nuts provide different health benefits. Walnuts, for example, are packed with omega-3s, while cashews are chock-full of magnesium and copper.
Rossi is a champion for getting a diverse array of plants into your diet in general, so it makes sense that she would suggest a mixed nut butter. “More diverse plants [mean] a more diverse gut bacteria, which in turn [means] a more diverse range of skills that the bacteria can offer our body in terms of hormonal production, metabolism, mental health properties, etc.,” she says.
In terms of which nuts you should prioritize, Rossi recommends a butter that contains cashews, hazelnuts, walnuts, and peanuts.
If you’re looking to shop now, some of our favorite mixed nut butters include the Trader Joe’s Mixed Nut Butter and the Nuttzo Organic Power Fuel Crunchy Nut Butter. Both of these options contain a blend of nuts to provide you with a wide range of nutrients rather than sticking to a single-nut nutrient profile.
The takeaway
While peanut butter is generally a crowd favorite, mixed nut butters may be a better go-to. Remember to look for a product that contains cashews, hazelnuts, walnuts, peanuts, and other nuts and seeds if possible. When you’re planning out your next snack, pair this nut butter with whole foods to double down on nutrients.