Ah, good ol’ American peanut butter… if you’re anything like me, you probably grew up devouring peanut butter and jelly sandwiches like it was a food group—maybe with a tall glass of milk (or chocolate milk if it was a special day at school).
But here’s the question: is peanut butter actually good for you? Or is it one of those foods that sneaks in a few not-so-great health issues?
Let’s break it down.
First off, peanuts aren’t actually nuts—they’re legumes. And legumes tend to come with more antinutrients than tree nuts do. That’s not always a bad thing, but in some cases, it can be problematic.
Now for the real issues with peanuts and peanut butter:
1. Gut issues & toxins
Peanuts contain higher levels of lectins compared to tree nuts, and lectins can be pretty rough on your digestive system—especially if you deal with things like leaky gut, IBS, or other gut sensitivities. On top of that, peanuts are often contaminated with aflatoxins, which are toxins produced by mold. Definitely not something you want to be eating on the regular.
2. Inflammation overload
Peanuts also have a not-so-great omega-6 to omega-3 ratio. If your diet’s already heavy on omega-6s (which most Western diets are), loading up on peanut butter could be tipping the inflammation scale even more.
3. Hidden junk in store-bought versions
A lot of conventional peanut butter brands throw in high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated oils (aka trans fats)—two of the worst offenders when it comes to processed ingredients. These can seriously mess with your health over time.
So what do I use instead of peanut butter for my family—and recommend to my clients?
Personally, I’m a big fan of almond butter, cashew butter, and pecan butter. Sometimes I even mix all three together (highly recommend, by the way). But if you’ve ever tried to track down cashew or pecan butter at your local grocery store, you know they can be pretty tough to find. That’s why almond butter is usually my go-to—it’s the easiest to get your hands on and a much healthier option than peanut butter.
Why almond butter? Well, for starters, it’s Paleo-friendly, unlike peanut butter (since peanuts are technically legumes, not nuts). And one of my absolute favorite snacks—like, I never get tired of this—is crisp apple slices dipped in almond butter. So simple, so delicious, and loaded with good-for-you nutrients like healthy fats, vitamins, and antioxidants.
Now, I’ll admit, finding good almond butter can sometimes be a challenge. And when you do find it, it’s often priced like liquid gold—some jars are pushing $30. No thank you!
Here’s a little tip: I recently chatted with a friend who works at Thrive Market, and they told me they’re offering a free jar of almond butter for new customers with a minimum $29 grocery order (US only). If you’re already a member, I believe you can still snag a free jar on orders over $50, or at least get a solid discount.
In case you haven’t heard of it, Thrive Market is like a Costco for healthy food—think wholesale prices, 25–50% off most things you’d find at health food stores, and free shipping on orders over $50. My wife and I have been using them for over a year now and honestly, we love it. They’re constantly adding new products, and we’ve discovered some awesome stuff—like Paleo coconut cereal, grain-free wraps, amazing coffee and teas, fun jerky options, chocolate (yes, please), and my current obsession: maca maple cashews. OMG… seriously addictive.
If you’re into clean eating but also like saving money (and time), it’s definitely worth checking out.
