This Is Why Sunflower Seed Butter Needs to Be Part of Your Diet
Move over, peanut butterโyouโve got competition.
We know, how could we ever replace beloved peanut butter? A SB&J sandwich just doesnโt have the same ring as a PB&J sandwich doesโbut the health benefits of sunflower seed butter might be enough for it to deserve a place in your kitchen cabinets.
According to Dr. Josh Axe, D.N.M., C.N.S., D.C., founder of DrAxe.com, best-selling author of Eat Dirt, and co-founder of Ancient Nutrition, sunflower seed butter isnโt only high in protein, itโs also packed with vitamin E, loaded with magnesium, and full of healthy fats.
One serving (a tablespoon) of organic sunflower seed butter contains an average of three grams of protein, which helps you feel full longer. (If you find yourself being always hungry, here are 8 reasons that might explain why.) โPeanut butter has long been the reigning champion of portable, high-protein pre- and post-gym snacks. But sunflower seed butter can give it a run for its money,โ says Dr. Axe. โThatโs because each serving of sunflower seed butter has about three grams of protein, a great size for a snack, particularly when paired with carbs.โ (Hereโs how to add more protein to your diet without even trying.)
โVitamin E is one of our bodyโs favorite antioxidants,โ says Dr. Axe. Sunflower seed butter’s vitamin E content balances cholesterol levels, increases immunity, and even reduces the appearance of aging. In case you need more convincing, just one tablespoon of sunflower seed butter only has 93 calories and provides 24 percent of your bodyโs daily need of vitamin E.
Dr. Axe describes magnesium as being โthe most important mineral in our bodies.โ Magnesium is essential in maintaining high energy levels, stopping muscle spasms, relieving constipation, and even getting a good nightโs sleep. โThankfully, snacking on sunflower seed butter provides about 15 percent of what your body needs a dayโnot bad for just one tablespoon!โ says Dr. Axe. Here are some signs you might have a magnesium deficiency.
Just like avocados are chock-full of healthy fats, so is sunflower seed butter. Healthy fats help deliver vitamins throughout your body, absorbs nutrients, and gives your skin a healthy glow. Here are some signs youโre not eating enough healthy fats.
However, itโs important to note that while sunflower seed butter may be delicious, some pre-made jars sold in grocery stores have more than what youโre bargaining forโlike hydrogenated oils and a lot of sugar. Fortunately, there are plenty of healthy sunflower seed butter options to choose from, like SunButterโs Organic Sunflower Butter, which contains seven grams of protein per two tablespoons and is made from just one ingredient: U.S.-grown, organic roasted sunflower seeds.
โWith peanut allergies highly on the rise many people have switched to sunflower butter,โ says Dr. Elizabeth Trattner A.P. DOM, Doctor of Chinese and Integrative Medicine. โIt is worth making the switch because peanuts are loaded with mold, chemicals and they are also legumes and people with digestive disorders cannot tolerate.โ