Is natural peanut butter really better?

[Corrie]

I always used to hear that natural peanut better was much better than the skippy style brand you find in the supermarket.

I just went down to the local bulk store and looked at their natural peanut butter and it was almost identical to the other stuff. About 10 more calories per 15g and the nutrients were the same. The only difference I could see was that the supermarket stuff has some oils added to it. (hydrogenated oil I think?)

So is it worth it go out of my way to eat the natural stuff?

[Jamie J. Skibicki]

"(hydrogenated oil I think?)"

Yes and thats the biggest difference between the two plus there is typically sugar added to regular peanut butter. Look up the effects of partially hydrogenated oils and decide.

[Corrie]

Cool,that's what I thought.

I got a small tub of it so I'll see if it tastes ok and hopefully I can stick with the healthier alternative.

[jkw]

jif sells a natural version which is still super tasty. I don't mind the sugar in peanut butter.

[tzanghi]

(Partially) Hydrogenated oils are those pesky trans fats that everyone talks about. Studies claim serious health risks. I would suggest sticking to natural. I personally don't enjoy the sweetened peanut butters anymore. Some natural PBs come without added salt as well.

[Greg C]

Sugar is pretty much death (although I confess to be addicted still pretty much and have the occasional fix). Natural PB is just peanuts and maybe some salt, so it's pretty much a whole food. And it tastes really good too.

Meets my definition of better. YMMV

[vanslix]

Trans-fats are bad news. The body simply doesn't have the enzymatic mechanisms to deal with them and so they clog up a lot of machinery and pathways in the body. Every once in awhile isn't going to kill you but if it's in something that's a staple like PB, I'd avoid it.

[devnull]

You can probably chew peanuts and spit out better peanut butter than skippy.

I make my own nut butter on a food processor. 2 1/2 cups of nuts (I add cashews, almonds and sesame seeds), honey, and sea salt. Let it blend forever and don't add the honey until the last 15 seconds. More than that and the consistency goes to hell. Once you get a chance to taste the real thing, you won't be able to stomach skippy.

Same thing with bacon. I cure my own, and now my girls won't eat bacon outside of the house because to them, the store bought stuff tastes like crap.

[Corrie]

You can probably chew peanuts and spit out better peanut butter than skippy.

I make my own nut butter on a food processor. 2 1/2 cups of nuts (I add cashews, almonds and sesame seeds), honey, and sea salt. Let it blend forever and don't add the honey until the last 15 seconds. More than that and the consistency goes to hell. Once you get a chance to taste the real thing, you won't be able to stomach skippy.

Same thing with bacon. I cure my own, and now my girls won't eat bacon outside of the house because to them, the store bought stuff tastes like crap.

Lol, sounds tasty!

I'm eating the natural stuff for the first time this morning. It doesn't have the sweetness that I associate with peanut butter but once I had a few bites I got used to it. Very tasty, I'll have to stick with natural.

[SQUAT_316]

I have been eating the natural for years. I switched to natural due to the extra shit they add to the regular stuff. I'm so used to it that I can't eat Skippy's, Jif etc. All I taste with those brands is sugar. But if one is underweight, trying to add mass and cheap calories, go with the regular peanut butter.