All About Nut Butters
What food could you eat every day for the rest of your life? Some might say pizza, while others may say cheeseburgers. Mine is peanut butter. Not peanut butter and jelly, just plain peanut butter.
They are often classified as “nuts;” however, peanuts are part of the legume family. Creamy peanut butter is made by blending peanuts into a smooth consistency using added water and sometimes additional oil and salt. When I was growing up, we had two choices: creamy or chunky. My mom introduced us to “all natural” peanut butter where the oil separated at the top. Now supermarkets carry a wide variety of nut and seed butters including almond, cashew, hazelnut, walnut, sunflower seed and soy butter.
Nut Butters and the Kidney Diet
If you have chronic kidney disease (CKD) or end stage kidney disease (ESKD), you may wonder if nut butters fit into a kidney-friendly diet. General guidelines or recommended daily allowances for key essential minerals in a kidney-friendly diet are as follows. As always, check with your dietitian for your personal nutritional requirements, because every person has different needs.
Potassium 2-3 grams/ day
Sodium 2-3 grams/ day
Phosphorous 800 – 1200 mg
Calcium 1200 – 2000 mg
Key Minerals, Calories and Protein of Common Nut and Seed Butters
| Nutrients per 2 tablespoons serving | Almond Butter (no added salt) | Cashew Butter | Peanut Butter (reduced sodium) | Hazelnut Butter* | Soy Butter* | Sunflower Seed Butter (no added salt) |
| Sodium | 2 mg | 4 mg | 64 mg | 0 mg | 100 mg | 0 mg |
| Potassium | 240 mg | 174 mg | 240 mg | 250 mg | 350 mg | 184 mg |
| Phosphorus | 162 mg | 146 mg | 102 mg | No data | 163 mg | 214 mg |
| Calcium | 112 mg | 14 mg | 14 mg | 40 mg | 40 mg | 20 mg |
| Calories | 196 | 188 | 188 | 210 | 200 | 198 |
| Protein | 6 grams | 6 grams | 8 grams | 10 grams | 8 grams | 6 grams |
*Nutrition information was taken from leading brands for these products and are examples only. Be sure to check nutrition labels and ingredient lists, brand to brand nutrition information may vary.
Nutrient analysis taken from DaVita.com and ESHA Food Processor®.
Enjoy Nut Butters Mindfully
Do nut and seed butters fit into a kidney-friendly diet? Yes, in moderation. Nut and seed butters can satisfy cravings for creamy textures and rich flavors, while adding a feeling of fullness from healthy fats and essential nutrients. Be mindful of portion size when it comes to any nut or seed butter. Talk to your dietitian for questions or tips on adding nut butter to your kidney-friendly diet.
REFERENCES:
ESHA Food Processor® Program
Davita.com
Additional Kidney Diet Resources
Visit DaVita.com and explore these diet and nutrition resources:
DaVita Kidney-Friendly Recipes
This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment. Consult your physician and dietitian regarding your specific diagnosis, treatment, diet and health questions.
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