Is Sunflower Seed Butter Paleo?
When looking for a replacement for beloved peanut butter, many of us turn to almond or cashew butter, while others make different brands of sunflower seed butter a part of their daily diet. It might seem like a no-brainer to those of you who have been eating a Paleo-friendly diet for some time, but for the rest of you, we’ll answer your burning question: is Sunflower Seed Butter Paleo?
What is Sunflower Seed Butter?
Playing off of peanut butter, and the Paleo-friendly but often expensive almond butter, Sunflower Seed Butter, is a puree of sunflower seeds. SunButter is a specific brand, but you can find many brands and types of sunflower seed butter. It is a popular sandwich spread among nut-free folks, or for those avoiding legumes like peanuts.
Is Sunflower Seed Butter Paleo?
Technically, yes, sunflower seed butter (unsweetened) is Paleo, but it isn’t quite as perfect as one might think. When it comes to nuts and nut butters (and nut and seed oils), the biggest concern is the Omega-6 to Omega-3 ratio. A distorted ratio of these fats is considered one of the more severe problems with today’s Western diet, and one of the reasons Paleophiles hawk grass-fed beef and pastured chicken. (Higher Omega-3 fatty acids in their diet = healthier food for us.) Sunflower seeds have a very skewed ratio, as they’re almost entirely made up of Omega 6 fatty acids. Keep your consumption low and pay attention to how it makes you feel before deciding if it is a healthy choice for you.
