Peanut butter Natural VS Unnatural

[diamondpete]

Hi folks,

I have noticed that everyone seems to make a big point of eating natural PB. (vs the veil unnatyuralk kind LOL) . I have not been eating PB because I could not easily get any natural where I am. I have decide to order some and was checking the nutrition lables and found very little difference. Any I looking at "bad brands" or is the natural PB benefit mostly hype?

Natural

UN


Marantha Cashew Butter
Serving Size = 2 Tbsp. (33g)*
Amount per serving
Calories 190 Calories from Fat 140
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 15g 24%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 5mg 0%
Total Carbohydrates 11g 4%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Sugar 2g
Protein 5g
Vitamin A 0%
Vitamin C 0%
Calcium 2%
Iron 10%
Diabetic Exchange: 3 fat + 1 starch + 1 meat

*Percent Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Certified Kosher (U) by Orthodox Union.

[Terry Monk]

Natty pretty much has only peanuts and salt as it's ingredients. Regular has added ingredients which include hydrogenated oil, etc. Stuff you can do without. However, I think most would agree regular pb is better than most of the "cheat" foods out there.

[Happy]

I think once you start eating healthy you almost become paranoid about "processed" foods and tend to avoid products that contain HFCS, Hydrogenated Oils, lots of salt etc. so in the scheme of things the inconvenience of natty pbub out weighs the cost of Jif and so on, I think it just comes down to how hardcore you want to be. I've even began to stop drinking diet soda perioid, it's just a transition from healthy to healthier to healthier-er? :] btw I think it's odd that you don't live by a corporate supermarket chain that has natural peanut butter, where do you live? the boonies? :|

[Terry Monk]

Diamond Dallas Pete or better known as diamondpete aka plutes aka ddp is in Japan. I wouldn't even venture a guess on what stores they have there.

[gobbla]

I remember back in the day I was pretty excited about eating healthy and whatnot and some folks were having a discussion about natural vs jiff.

There's some difference...a little bit of sugar...a little bit of oil...not enough to really warrant the extra buck a jar (IMO). The big reply was "you don't eat peanut butter in a vaccuum".

I understand what the guy meant...but to this day it's one of the more rediculous statments I've ever heard about diet. If eating some jiff is the worst thing you do all day then you're doing a pretty damn good job!

[diamondpete]

So I guess the question should be is what is natural PB? Peanuts you crush yourself??

BTW (I do not drink soda of any sort)

Supposedly Natural (processed PB, lables above look not different from the UNnatural.)

So would you say the above shown natural PBs are UN? If so what is a natural PB that you can BUY?

I am worried I will have to stick to snacking on octopus heads....

Peter

[Marykaa]

Responding to Gobbla's comment

In ordinary times.. I'm a Peanut butter Junkie..

and my biggest problem with my favorite PB compared to the natural one.. Is that I want to and can eat too much of it. It's much easier for me to eat proper portions of the natural one, just because I like it a little less. So I mostly buy the natural one.. and once in a while give myself a treat with my favorite.. for just one jar.. I can be reasonable.

[Happy]

It's such a trace amount of hydrogenated oils that I doubt anyone hear is going to scold you if you're unable to go the natural route, it's just that most of us - especially if you post - are health zealots and _choose_ to be zealous when it comes to buying our foods. e.g organic apple vs. conventional apple. it comes down to your mentality of health, not the health of the food. either pbub will get you just as fat if you eat too much of it :]

[diamondpete]

so what is natural PB?

[Happy]

Peanuts. and salt. fin. but since you've never seen natural peanut butter it always has about an inch of oil (naturally occuring from the peanuts) settled on the top.

Unnatural simply adds hydrogenated oil so that at room temperature the oil is a solid, not a liquid.

Most of us have to stir - strength exercise - natty pbub before putting it into the fridge as to allow the oils to solidify.

[diamondpete]

Thanks for the clarification, happy. I must sound like an idiot. I have seen "natuarl PB, my father used to make it, but we called it homemade PB.

I have seen several Natural PB (processed) and was wondering if that is what people were refering to. However, since the SO CALLLED natural PB, are no different from the other processed offering I was wondering what the diff was.

I will look into this:
Smart Balance Natural PButter

Thanks again

[ZachL]

as said above, hydrogenated oil makes no difference here - eat whichever kind of peanut butter you prefer, and if you have no preference, go natural.

http://www.peanut-institute.org/05-0...-fatty_PR.html

[Marykaa]

The natural PB I buy (NATUR)is labled as follows :

INGREDIENTS: Highest quality dry roasted peanuts (that is all)

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION for 30g

ENERGY 190 cal
PROTIEN 8.2 g
FAT 15,3 g
CARBOHYDRATES 5,3 g
NAURAL SUGARS 1,6 g
SODIUM 1,5 mg
POTASSIUM 210 mg

[BamaDave]

Not even salt, Mary?? No wonder you don't like it as much!

Salt is one vice I haven't been able to give up, even though I should do a better job since I have a past history of early onset high blood pressure.

I find that if I store my Natural PB jars upside-down before opening, it's a lot easier to stir in the oil without making a mess (since the oil winds up in the bottom of the jar).

[Mark57]

Yeah, I wasn't looking one day and grabbed a jar of unsalted natural pb by mistake. Had to just throw it away, it was so nasty.

I buy Adam's Natural PB mostly because it tastes way better than anything else I've tried and doesn't cost that much more, but the trans-fats in regular PB don't add up to enough to worry about. Safeway sells the 16oz Adams for $3.49 and the 26oz for $3.99, doesn't make much sense but it's a pretty easy choice.

I also buy a new jar when the current one is about half gone and store it upside down for a week or two, it definitely helps with the stirring.

[Marykaa]

DAVE.. not even salt! but I do I have the two kinds of PB and depends how I feel and how I've been eating which one I take.. My pressure is just fine.. but I tend to retain water very easily.

and for the oil.. actually I sometimes through some of it away.. so there's less in what I'm eating.. but I would like to find some other use for it..

and no.. I don't mean to make oil changes in my car!

[obsolete29]

I believe smucker's makes a natural peanut butter. I buy mine at wal-mart. Ingredients say "peanuts, salt". Pretty good.

[diamondpete]

Thanks for all the comments

Peter