Low Glycemic Nut Butters?

by George
(Eagan MN)

Visitor Question:

What are the low glycemic nut butters?

Lifetime Fat Loss Answers:

The low glycemic nut butters are those with NO additives. They contain the nuts and nothing else. Nuts are low glycemic but any extra ingredients will likely raise your blood sugar. Nuts are a great source of protein and omega 3 fatty acids. Just stay away from "honey sweetened," "goober grape" and any that sound like they've been created for kids. Not that they're good for kids either!

The problem is so many of the commercial nut butters you find on your grocery store shelf will have high glycemic ingredients added to them to supposedly enhance the taste or preserve them. So you have to be good at reading labels. When you look on the jar you will see a box with the "Nutrition Facts" that tell you the calories, fat, sodium, protein etc. If sugar has been added it will give you the sugar grams too. Stay away from those.

But also check out the "Ingredients" list which is usually under the box of "Nutrition Facts." You don't want anything there except the nuts. Especially beware of "reduced fat" nut butters. These almost always have high glycemic sweeteners added to make up for the loss of fat.

Nuts are healthy fats! In addition to protein and omega 3 fatty acids they contain fiber, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. They help you lower your cholesterol and support good metabolism. A few nuts (7 - 10) or a tablespoon of nut butter on crackers or celery sticks will be filling and make any snack more satisfying. You can't eliminate all fats from your diet and expect to lose weight. Nut butters can help you manage your blood sugar and a healthy weight.