peanut butter is mine a "good" choice?

donna_glasgow
donna_glasgow Posts: 869 Member
edited 4:55PM in Food and Nutrition
I live in Scotland in the UK and been looking for a healthy choice peanut butter that I also enjoy. there seems to be little choice in large super markets - I posted a topic before and had loads of ppl telling me the good ones, but I cant find them where I live :(

The one I have settled on, that I like the taste of and think is healthy is "whole earth smooth organic"

ingredients :- roasted peanuts 92%, palm oil and sea salt

food facts :- for 100g --
595 cals
24.6 protein
9.9 carbs
3.7 sugar
50.8 fat
9.1 saturated fat
7.1 fibre
0.4 salt

Ive researched and find that some ppl are for and some against palm oil so Im not sure my peanut butter is a good choice

Replies

  • clairerose11
    clairerose11 Posts: 95 Member
    Palm Oil :(

    Sainsbury's do a reduced fat one ...
  • RawrWolfie
    RawrWolfie Posts: 64 Member
    I say skip the peanut butter its unhealthy, instead eat beans and almonds for protein instead. Almond butter might be a more healthy choice. Peanut butter has a lot of saturated fats to protein ratio.
  • melsinct
    melsinct Posts: 3,512 Member
    I say skip the peanut butter its unhealthy, instead eat beans and almonds for protein instead. Almond butter might be a more healthy choice. Peanut butter has a lot of saturated fats to protein ratio.

    I disagree completely. Peanut butter is not unhealthy, nor does the presence of saturated fat automatically make something unhealthy. See the article below. To the original poster, the palm oil is a bummer. I like my PB to have only peanuts and salt as the ingredient with no added oils.

    As summarized by Walter C. Willett, M.D., Harvard School of Public Health:

    The presence of saturated fat doesn't automatically kick a food into the "unhealthy" camp. Olive oil, wheat germ, and even tofu — all "healthy" foods — have some saturated fat. It's the whole package of nutrients, not just one or two, that determines how good a particular food is for health.

    Let's take a look at the peanut butter package. One serving (about 2 tablespoons) has 3.3 grams of saturated fat and 12.3 grams of unsaturated fat, or about 80% unsaturated fat. That puts it up there with olive oil in terms of the ratio of unsaturated to saturated fat. Peanut butter also gives you some fiber, some vitamins and minerals (including 200 milligrams of potassium), and other nutrients. Unsalted peanut butter, with 5 milligrams of sodium, has a terrific potassium-to-sodium ratio. Salted peanut butter still has about twice as much potassium as sodium. That profile compares quite favorably with bologna, roast beef, and many other sandwich fixings.

    Over the years, numerous studies have shown that people who regularly include nuts or peanut butter in their diets are less likely to develop heart disease or type 2 diabetes than those who rarely eat nuts. Although it is possible that nut eaters are somehow different from, and healthier than, non-nutters, it is more likely that nuts themselves have a lot to do with these benefits.

    Saturated fat isn't the deadly toxin it is sometimes made out to be. The body's response to saturated fat in food is to increase the amounts of both harmful LDL and protective HDL in circulation. In moderation, some saturated fat is okay. Eating a lot of it, though, promotes artery-clogging atherosclerosis, the process that underlies most cardiovascular disease. In contrast, unsaturated fats, which make up the majority of the fat content in peanut butter, help reduce LDL cholesterol and lower the risk of heart disease.
  • RawrWolfie
    RawrWolfie Posts: 64 Member
    People try to say bacon is healthy so they can continue eating it. In my opinion its fine in moderation
  • GettingDBack
    GettingDBack Posts: 75 Member
    Do you have access to a food processor? You can make you own peanut butter witrh just nuts and maybe a little salt added.
  • melsinct
    melsinct Posts: 3,512 Member
    People try to say bacon is healthy so they can continue eating it. In my opinion its fine in moderation

    I agree, which is a lot different than your previous statement saying "it is unhealthy." I agree that no one should be eating tons of peanut butter; however, a serving is 2 tablespoons and I don't see how consuming that even daily would be considered unhealthy.
  • donna_glasgow
    donna_glasgow Posts: 869 Member
    Do you have access to a food processor? You can make you own peanut butter witrh just nuts and maybe a little salt added.

    yes I do and Ill give that a try :D, is there any oils I can add that will make it smoothish or does is become smoothish on its own? I dont mind crunchy but prefer it to spread a little :)
  • Palm Oil :(

    Sainsbury's do a reduced fat one ...

    Sainsbury's also contains palm oil. It may have less fat but unfortunately it also contains dried glucose syrup and has 7x the amount of sugar as the Whole Earth Smooth Organic - 27.7g per 100g! Of the two, I think Whole Earth is the healthier option - higher protein and fibre, less sodium and no added sugar.
  • donna_glasgow
    donna_glasgow Posts: 869 Member
    To the original poster, the palm oil is a bummer. I like my PB to have only peanuts and salt as the ingredient with no added oils.


    I cant find any with only peanuts and salt, it might just be where I shop, normally large supermarkets or maybe ive over looked them ... I shall keep looking :)
  • skoshness
    skoshness Posts: 175
    the peanut butter & company do one that is just salt and peanuts, I find it a bit oily tho (I get it from Sainsburys and I'm in Edinburgh)

    I've been using the whole earth one a lot, would like to know what's wrong with palm oil?
  • wellbert
    wellbert Posts: 3,924 Member
    To the original poster, the palm oil is a bummer. I like my PB to have only peanuts and salt as the ingredient with no added oils.


    I cant find any with only peanuts and salt, it might just be where I shop, normally large supermarkets or maybe ive over looked them ... I shall keep looking :)

    most supermarkets anymore have a peanut grinder. Of course, that assumes the peanuts inside are JUST peanuts.
  • To the original poster, the palm oil is a bummer. I like my PB to have only peanuts and salt as the ingredient with no added oils.


    I cant find any with only peanuts and salt, it might just be where I shop, normally large supermarkets or maybe ive over looked them ... I shall keep looking :)

    'Goodness Direct' (http://www.goodnessdirect.co.uk) sell Meridian peanut butter which contains 'Organic peanuts whole skin on 99%, sea salt 1%' - they also do a no salt version. 'Holland & Barrett' (Sauchiehall Street, Queen Street, Byres Road, Parkhead Forge,Glasgow Fort, Braehead...) stock Meridian products or it might be worth looking in 'Roots and Fruits' on Great Western Road or 'Grassroots' on Woodlands Road as they both have a good range of nut butters.
  • clairerose11
    clairerose11 Posts: 95 Member
    Palm Oil :(

    Sainsbury's do a reduced fat one ...

    Sainsbury's also contains palm oil. It may have less fat but unfortunately it also contains dried glucose syrup and has 7x the amount of sugar as the Whole Earth Smooth Organic - 27.7g per 100g! Of the two, I think Whole Earth is the healthier option - higher protein and fibre, less sodium and no added sugar.


    Oh goodness! Good job I have weaned myself off of it :(
  • donna_glasgow
    donna_glasgow Posts: 869 Member
    To the original poster, the palm oil is a bummer. I like my PB to have only peanuts and salt as the ingredient with no added oils.


    I cant find any with only peanuts and salt, it might just be where I shop, normally large supermarkets or maybe ive over looked them ... I shall keep looking :)

    'Goodness Direct' (http://www.goodnessdirect.co.uk) sell Meridian peanut butter which contains 'Organic peanuts whole skin on 99%, sea salt 1%' - they also do a no salt version. 'Holland & Barrett' (Sauchiehall Street, Queen Street, Byres Road, Parkhead Forge,Glasgow Fort, Braehead...) stock Meridian products or it might be worth looking in 'Roots and Fruits' on Great Western Road or 'Grassroots' on Woodlands Road as they both have a good range of nut butters.

    Thanks for your reply, I walk by these shops lol, I'll pop in and have a look :D
  • donna_glasgow
    donna_glasgow Posts: 869 Member
    the peanut butter & company do one that is just salt and peanuts, I find it a bit oily tho (I get it from Sainsburys and I'm in Edinburgh)

    I've been using the whole earth one a lot, would like to know what's wrong with palm oil?

    Ill check sainsburys also, I don't think i've looked there, I'm normally tesco n asda :)
  • donna_glasgow
    donna_glasgow Posts: 869 Member
    the peanut butter & company do one that is just salt and peanuts, I find it a bit oily tho (I get it from Sainsburys and I'm in Edinburgh)

    I've been using the whole earth one a lot, would like to know what's wrong with palm oil?

    I would also like to know, but google isn't letting me find anything :(

    just found one link

    http://health.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977134130
  • southpaw211
    southpaw211 Posts: 385 Member
    I've been a JIF girl my entire life, until I discovered PB2. If you can get past the fact that it's powdered and you have to mix it with a little water, it's pretty good! I can get it to a creamy consistency similar to jarred peanut butter, I can make it thinner to spoon over some frozen yogurt, I can leave it in powdered form and mix into my protein shake. Super low in fat and calories, and if I just want a couple of tablespoons of peanut butter, I don't even have to feel remotely guilty about it.
  • EmmaM2211
    EmmaM2211 Posts: 536 Member
    Palm Oil :(

    Sainsbury's do a reduced fat one ...

    I took one look at the ingredients list on that one and decided noooo thank you!! It's even worse than their regular peanut butter!

    My local sainsbury sell meridian - best one I've tried. xx
  • They say this...and they say that....
    Good and bad....
    I still have peanut butter sometimes still, just a lot less on the bread. See, they will also tell me the bread is bad for me, but I am still losing weight and I eat bread just about everyday.
    If you want your peanut butter, just use less, if you don't just burn off whatever you think is necessary.
    If it works for YOU what does it matter what anyone else thinks?
    Everyone is different.
    IF you're worried about palm oil, look it up, see what the goods and bads on it yourself, then you can decide if it's something you want.
  • GettingDBack
    GettingDBack Posts: 75 Member
    Do you have access to a food processor? You can make you own peanut butter witrh just nuts and maybe a little salt added.

    yes I do and Ill give that a try :D, is there any oils I can add that will make it smoothish or does is become smoothish on its own? I dont mind crunchy but prefer it to spread a little :)
    You can add a little peanut oil or another nut oil to make it smooth. I saw cashew butter being made on a cooking show and they used walnut oil, I assume the same can be applied to peanut butter
  • donna_glasgow
    donna_glasgow Posts: 869 Member
    Do you have access to a food processor? You can make you own peanut butter witrh just nuts and maybe a little salt added.

    yes I do and Ill give that a try :D, is there any oils I can add that will make it smoothish or does is become smoothish on its own? I dont mind crunchy but prefer it to spread a little :)
    You can add a little peanut oil or another nut oil to make it smooth. I saw cashew butter being made on a cooking show and they used walnut oil, I assume the same can be applied to peanut butter

    TY :D ill deffo give that a go :)
  • bcf7683
    bcf7683 Posts: 1,653 Member
    I agree 100% with the post above about PB2. You can get it online at Amazon.com. They even have a chocolate version. VERY good with protein shakes. I eat it every morning with a banana for peanut-butter-banana bread (I use 100 calorie wheat rounds). It's even good with an apple. There's only 45 calories in 2 tablespoons (AWESOME). I'm so happy I found this stuff, I eat it just about everyday.

    So if you're worried about the fat (whether good or bad), PB2 is for you. It's a little pricier than regular peanut butter considering that you have to pay shipping (I usually wait until I need protein or something else I purchase from Amazon, you get free shipping over $25), but if you really want peanut butter and no guilt, it's the way to go :drinker:
  • donna_glasgow
    donna_glasgow Posts: 869 Member
    They say this...and they say that....
    Good and bad....
    I still have peanut butter sometimes still, just a lot less on the bread. See, they will also tell me the bread is bad for me, but I am still losing weight and I eat bread just about everyday.
    If you want your peanut butter, just use less, if you don't just burn off whatever you think is necessary.
    If it works for YOU what does it matter what anyone else thinks?
    Everyone is different.
    IF you're worried about palm oil, look it up, see what the goods and bads on it yourself, then you can decide if it's something you want.

    I agree that everyones views are different, geez ive even heard bananas stop you losing weight, if we listened to ALL the advice we would never eat anything :) however there is noting wrong with opinions when at least you can hear other ppls views and come to our own decisions :D

    as for bread (thats evil :P )

    I cant lose weight when eating bread. I have proved this to myself time and time again but I keep going back as I love bread. ... everyones body is different its finding what works
  • ang3h
    ang3h Posts: 185 Member
    PB2!!! There are no stores where I live that sell it so I buy it online. It is basically powdered peanut butter.. the oil is removed so instead of 200 calories for 2tbsp it's only like 40 calories.
  • petiteLady89
    petiteLady89 Posts: 198 Member
    I only eat peanut butter with the ingredient "peanuts" no other ingredients. Not sure if you have Krazy Richard's, but I think it's good and very healthy.
This discussion has been closed.