Allergies of any kind can create so much stress and difficulty in shopping for food - whether at a restaurant or your local grocery store. If your allergy is newly acquired, or new to someone in your home, it can mean a massive shift in your everyday food habits. This is especially true for those with peanut allergies.
Peanut allergies are incredibly prevalent in the USA - it is estimated that 1.1% of the population is affected. This equates to around 3 million people, both adults and children, though peanut allergies tend to be more common in the latter.
This allergy can pose a significant medical risk, including the possibility of death from exposure to even trace amounts of peanuts. Symptoms of peanut allergy can include:
- Indigestion
- Vomiting
- Stomach cramps
- Difficulty breathing
- Repetitive coughing
- Wheezing
- Swelling of the tongue and lips
- Hives
- Dizziness and confusion
To confirm whether you have a peanut-specific allergy, your doctor will need to run a series of tests. This may be a skin prick test or blood test.
I’m Allergic - What Happens Now?
Unfortunately, very little is known about why peanut allergies develop and there is little that can be done for them - there is no cure as such. The normal approach is to modify your diet to avoid peanuts and peanut products, like peanut butter entirely. You may also be directed to avoid other legume-based products until further testing has been done. Your doctor will likely prescribe an Epi-pen and antihistamines for use in case of exposure.
Should it be your child that is allergic, you will need to notify school or daycare, as well as other family members. This is to ensure appropriate measures can be taken to keep the child away from peanuts and peanut products. School lunch box treats will need to be thoroughly vetted for peanuts or peanut contaminants. Thankfully, peanut butter allergies are treated with a high degree of caution in schools.
Do I Have To Give Up My Favorite Foods?
In the past, discovering you or a loved one had a peanut allergy meant an incredibly restrictive diet. Not just to avoid peanut products, but any that may have cross-contamination. With few decent peanut butter alternatives available, many favorite treats and snacks had to be given up entirely.
Thankfully these days many food manufacturing companies go to great lengths to keep their production lines peanut and tree-nut free. With the increased prevalence of allergies, there is also a much bigger focus on providing peanut butter alternatives. So you need not miss out or have to compromise on your favorite foods.
Peanut Butter And Peanut Substitutes
One of the best peanut or tree nut butter substitutes comes from seeds. Toasted and roasted seeds such as pumpkin, flax, sunflower, chia, hemp, and sesame can be ground to create a paste. Occasionally soybeans or other legumes will also be used to create peanut butter alternatives. These pastes are usually similar in texture and consistency to traditional nut-based butter, but without the same allergy risks.
Watch Points
Before using any peanut butter substitute, it is important to approach with caution and check:
- That the production line does not pose a risk of any cross-contamination with peanuts or tree nuts. This can occur when the same factories produce multiple products.
- Check the labels carefully, possible allergens (not just peanuts or tree nuts) will usually be listed in bold.
- Should you be allergic to peanuts, you may also need to avoid soy-based products. This is due to them both being in the legume family, so you should proceed with caution.
- Some substitutes will be high in additives such as salt, sugar, and added saturated fats. Be careful to still consume these in moderation, just as you would with nut butter.
Just Like Nut Butter, But Better
To counteract all of the above watchpoints, without compromising on taste, texture, or your health, Beyond The Equator was born. Our 5 Seed Butter range combines some of the best and most underutilized superfoods - pumpkin, chia, flax, hemp, and sunflower seeds.
These seeds in their natural form are not always easy to consume in beneficial quantities, nor are they particularly palatable when raw. Single blend seed butter products may overcome some of these concerns but are often still lacking in nutritional density.
Our goal in blending these five seeds was to harness their health benefits to create a delicious and healthful peanut butter alternative for allergy sufferers. We believe that living with allergies, or specific health needs should never mean missing out or compromising on great taste or delicious food.
In addition to being peanut-free, 5 Seed Seed Butter:
- Has a higher protein content and lower carb content than nut butters. Making it the ideal peanut butter substitute for those following the ketogenic diet.
- Contains no sesame seeds, another common allergen.
- Is low in sugar and dairy-free.
- Is Vegan and non-GMO certified.
Our 5 Seed Butter doesn’t just protect you from the top 8 allergens but gives you a vitamin and mineral boost far beyond what a single seed butter could offer. It is also incredibly versatile, able to replace your favorite peanut butter in just about any recipe you can think of.
Consider it the ideal replacement for peanut butter in:
- Satay Chicken
- Peanut Butter Brownies
- A PB&J
- Protein Balls
- Salad dressings
- Holiday treats
- Smoothies and more
There is no limit to the possibilities, if you need more inspiration, please check out our tried and tested recipes.
Allergen Free Eating Made Easy
At Beyond The Equator our commitment to creating products that offer optimal health, are allergy-free, and taste great is ongoing. The world is a big place and there is still much to discover, searching for the most nutritious and often underutilized foods is our passion.
Try our great range of seed butters today and see how living with peanut allergies doesn’t need to become a chore. Just one simple switch and your home, school lunchbox, and favorite recipes can be peanut-free.
Beyond The Equator 5 Seed Butter makes living a life with peanut butter allergies easier. With the added bonus of being a more healthy peanut butter alternative, you can enjoy it guilt-free!