Everyone Is Talking About Seed Butters, But Which Is The Best

Packed full of vitamins and minerals, good fats, and protein, it’s not hard to see why the health-savvy are loving seed butter, but which one should you choose?

If you want all the benefits in one jar, this is the seed butter that you want to get next – a five-seed butter featuring sunflower, chia, flax, pumpkin, and hemp seeds.

So what are all those seeds bringing to the party? Take a look at the nutrients in each single seed butter, then consider the benefits a multi-seed butter can offer, packing all of this into one healthy jar.

Sunflower Seed Butter

Taste: It has a more liquid consistency to peanut butter, which actually makes it easier to spread. If you like eating sunflower seeds as they are then you should enjoy the flavor of sunflower seed butter, too.

Goes Well With: Sunbutter, as it’s sometimes called, works really well as a dip for a veggie stick for a really healthy snack.

Nutrients:

• Vitamin E – helps maintain healthy skin and eyes
• Magnesium – good for regulating muscle and nerve function
• Zinc – helps your immune system
• Copper – supports your nervous system
• Phosphorus – essential for the body to make protein
• Niacin – turns food into energy
• Thiamin – needed for glucose metabolism

Chia Seed Butter

Taste: You can’t actually find a pure chia seed butter; this may be because of the texture of chia seeds, but as an addition to other seed butters, it can add a mild, nutty flavor to the mix.

Goes well with: You most often find chia seeds mixed into almond butters, sunflower seed butters and mixed seed butters.

Nutrients:

• Fiber – aids digestion
• Omega-3 fatty acids – reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease
• Protein – increases muscle mass
• Amino acids – needed for healing and repair
• Calcium – maintaining strong teeth and bones
• Magnesium – maintaining blood sugar levels

Flax Seed Butter

Taste: Another seed with a mild, nutty flavor, the overall taste will depend on the oil used in the recipe, but for a sweeter option flax seed butter made with coconut oil you can get a flavor likened to coconut cookies.

Goes with: Load it onto toast for an allergy-free peanut butter alternative.

Nutrients:

• Fiber – prevents constipation
• Omega-3 fatty acids – builds cell membranes in the brain
• Lignans – lowers risk of breast cancer

Pumpkin Seed Butter

Taste: Unsurprisingly, pumpkin seed butter has the slightly earthy flavor of, you guessed it, pumpkin seeds. It’s a mellow taste so not overpowering and can be salty or sweet depending on the variety.

Goes well with: It works well as a sweet snack so use it as a dip for sliced fruit or mix a spoonful into plain yogurt for a guilt-free treat.

Nutrients:

• Manganese – helps reduce inflammation
• Magnesium – helps repair DNA
• Phosphorus – needed to repair cells and tissues
• Iron – needed for the production of red blood cells
• Copper – contributes to iron absorption
• Vitamin K – needed for blood clotting
• Zinc – helps metabolism function

Hemp Seed Butter

Taste: A more buttery taste than peanut butter but just as flavorful. It’s earthy and a little sweet and it’s green!

Goes well with: Simply use it as an alternative to regular butter or try stirring it into some pasta for a simple nutrient hit.

Nutrients:

• Omega-6 – needed for the immune system
• Omega-3 – supports mental health
• Vitamin E – helps defend against illness and infection
• Magnesium – supports energy production
• Zinc – important for your sense of smell and taste
• Iron – necessary to maintain healthy hair and nails
• Calcium – needed for proper heart, muscle and nerve functioning

When so many Americans have nutrient deficiencies, a seed butter that can provide all this nutritional value into just one jar, is a great option to add to your diet.

Just don’t overdo it!