The Nuance
Are Fancy Nut Butters Really Healthier Than Peanut Butter?
Trendy butters like almond and cashew might be mostly hype
Every week, the Nuance will go beyond the basics, offering a deep and researched look at the latest science and expert insights on a buzzed-about health topic.
Nut butters are having a moment. While peanut butter remains the most affordable option, plenty of consumers shell out double or triple its price for almond butter, cashew butter, or other unconventional varieties of ground nuts.
The recent rise in peanut-related allergies may have a lot to do with it. Since 2010, the prevalence of childhood peanut allergies has leaped 21 percent, according to 2017 data from the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. While tree-nut allergies are also a growing concern (peanuts are a legume), the fact that many schools now ban peanut products is one likely explanation for the profusion of nut butters.
Beyond allergies, consumers may view expensive tree-nut butters as healthier alternatives to peanut butter. And not without reason: some popular eating trends. namely Paleo diets, warn against the consumption of peanuts. Recent research has also linked almonds to heart health benefits, and attributed healthy microbiome changes to…
