Nut Butter

Nut butter's mineral and fat content contributes to maintaining healthy acid-base balance. Natural nut butter has the same nutritional profile as the raw nut it is made from. Natural peanut butter made only from peanuts is said to have fewer net carbs than natural almond butter. Dietary fat from nut butter slows gastric emptying and suppresses appetite, helping maintain longer fasting windows. The recipe allows either peanut butter or almond butter in the mixture. Nut butter is added after the cocoa powder has been incorporated. Keto-appropriate nut butter must contain no added sugar, as sugar raises blood glucose and disrupts ketosis. Native oils in nut butters, such as peanut oil in peanut butter, are acceptable. A quality natural nut butter is defined as containing only ground nuts. Nut butter is combined with vanilla, stevia, and salt as part of the flavoring stage. Seed oils such as soy oil and cottonseed oil added to nut butters are inflammatory and undesirable. Commercial peanut butters are often higher in carbohydrates because sugar and hydrogenated fats are added. Peanut butter, almond butter, and other nut butters are all acceptable on a ketogenic diet.