Pecan butter is among the best alternatives to peanut butter, especially if you are searching for a healthier option. There are plenty of sources for pecans in the United States. In fact, the country grows and supplies up to 80% of the world’s pecans. This is why many are making different snacks, condiments, and dishes from them, including pecan butter.
In addition to its delicious taste, pecan butter also has lots of vitamins and minerals that make it a very healthy treat. It is a delightful, nutrient-packed condiment that you can snack on or add to your favorite recipes. If you are wondering about the good things that you can get from it, you’re in the right place. Today, we are giving you a list of the benefits of pecan butter.
Pecan Butter is Heart-Healthy
Pecan nuts have monounsaturated fats like oleic acid. It also contains phenolic antioxidants that help reduce the risk of heart disease. Based on the National Pecan Shellers Association, when you add a handful of pecan nuts to your diet, it will help decrease the LDL or bad cholesterol and increase the HDL or good cholesterol in your body. With this, you can prevent stroke and coronary artery disease.
Pecan Butter Can Help Improve Digestion
Pecans are rich in fiber, and they can promote colon health and facilitate regular bowel movements. Pecan nuts can also help prevent constipation and reduce the risk of hemorrhoids and colitis by cleaning out the gastrointestinal system. Therefore, if you want to improve your digestion, including pecan butter in your diet would be a good idea. Aside from pecan butter, another healthy option that you can try is hazelnut butter.
Pecan Butter Can Help Boost the Immune System
Pecan butter gives phytonutrients like coconut butter, which are plant-based compounds with powerful antioxidant benefits. In addition to that, they are also a good source of the mineral zinc, which is essential for immune-cell development and function. Foods high in zinc are connected to a lower risk of many diseases, especially those related to age and lifestyle.
Also, eating ellagic acid-containing foods, which is an antioxidant found in pecans, is connected to a reduced risk of some cancers. Therefore, adding pecan butter to your diet can help you boost your immune system.
Pecan Butter is Rich in Flavonoids
Based on USDA, pecans contain more flavonoids compared to other tree nuts. Flavonoids are a type of antioxidant found mostly in fruits and vegetables. Those who eat diets high in flavonoids are less likely to develop chronic diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, and cognitive decline. With this, it is best to pair pecan butter with other flavonoid-filled foods, such as blueberries, apples, strawberries, and more.
Pecan Butter Is Surprisingly Low In Sugar
Pecans are low in sugar, and they can also help improve your blood sugar levels by decreasing the rate of absorption from the bloodstream into peripheral tissues. This can help maintain energy levels and prevent blood sugar spikes, leading to major crashes.
Pecan Butter Can Help Boost Your Brain Health
Nuts are among the most nutritious foods out there, and that also includes pecans. Diets rich in vitamin E have been connected with lowering the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia by 25%. This is because vitamin E and other antioxidants in plant-based foods help reduce oxidative stress caused by inflammation. They protect cells and tissues of vital organs, including the brain. This means that eating pecan butter can help boost your brain health.
Pecan Butter is Helpful for Weight Loss
Nuts like pecan indeed contain a lot of fat. However, the type of fats found in tree nuts and fruits can actually promote weight loss and maintenance. It is because nuts are filling sources of oleic acid – a healthy fat that can make you feel full while boosting your heart health. Some of the other ways to successful long-term weight loss are eating every three to four hours, restraining added sugars and saturated fats found in processed foods, and making your meals plant-based. Pecan butter is a deliciously satisfying condiment that you can use in making healthy snacks.
Pecan Butter Contains Essential Minerals
Pecans are also excellent sources of copper and manganese, which are minerals that can boost your overall metabolic health. These may also contain anti-inflammatory properties and help reduce the risk of heart disease. These nutrients have also shown promise to prevent high blood pressure.
Pecan Butter Can Help Satisfy a Salty-Snack Craving
Pecan butter that is unsalted is a naturally sodium-free snack, which is great if you are following a lower-sodium diet or lessening salty foods. Diets high in sodium are linked to an increased risk of chronic diseases, especially high blood pressure. Therefore, swapping pecan butter as a savory-sweet ingredient in any recipe can help you retain flavor with powerful health benefits.
These are the different benefits that you can get from pecan butter. Adding it to your diet will enable you to enjoy the sweet and rich flavor, including all of its health benefits. We hope this helped you learn more about the benefits of pecan butter.
Anti-Inflammatory Benefits
Pecan butter has magnesium in abundance, which is known to have anti-inflammatory benefits. Studies have shown that high magnesium intake reduces inflammatory signs in the body inflammation in the arterial walls, which reduces the risk of arthritis and cardiovascular diseases, and other inflammatory ailments.
Strengthens Bones
Pecan butter has loads of magnesium that helps bones stay in good shape and up and running. Magnesium helps in the proper growth of bones and helps old bones to stay strong. Magnesium is essential for people with low bone density and older women who are at risk of developing a rare condition called Osteoporosis. Magnesium reduces the chance of people developing this condition.
Reduces the Risk of Cancer
Pecan nuts can help protect our bodies from cancer because of the anti-proliferative properties of ellagic acid, which prevent DNA binding of certain carcinogens, such as nitrosamines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. It also contains oleic acid, which has been found to reduce the risk of breast cancer. Pecan butter helps clean the gastrointestinal system, reducing the chance of colon cancer.
Prevents Skin Problems
Pecan butter is packed with fiber and aid in eliminating dullness, excess oil, and toxins from the skin that have been built up in the body and improve the appearance of the skin. Pecan butter contains vitamin A and zinc, which helps in providing a clear complexion and protect the skin against skin infections. Pecan butter contains a lot of antioxidants, including ellagic acid, which eliminates the free radicals responsible for causing premature skin aging. Pecan butter also helps prevent fine lines, wrinkles, and pigmentation.
Helps with Hair Loss
Pecan butter has an abundance of iron, lack of which causes anemia. Anemia is one of the main causes of hair loss, and pecan butter helps fulfill the deficiency of iron and combats hair loss.
Conclusion
Pecan butter is eaten because of its great taste and the number of benefits it provides. If you have been eating peanut butter only, you need to try pecan butter and gain all the health benefits it has to offer. However, pecan is also the nut containing the highest calories – it has 22% more calories than peanuts and 20% more than almonds. Therefore, pecan butter is a healthy choice if consumed in moderation – if you want to eat it every day – it won’t be a healthy option to go for.