Another day, another category! I would like to start featuring the various items that I consider healthful alternatives and store them all under a new category called “My Pantry”. I have chosen these products mainly because of their good ingredients (or lack of bad ones).
The first item in the “This is my” category is a staple in everyone’s house: the ever-popular peanut butter. Most homes use Jif or Skippy brands, but did you know that those brands use partially hydrogenated oils or added sugar? If you read my previous post, you already know the harmful effects of hydrogenated oils.
For example, here is the nutrition information for Exhibit A, Jif Reduced Fat Peanut Butter (taken directly from the product page):
By the time you finish reading the list of ingredients, you might lose your appetite for that peanut butter sandwich! (seriously, what’s Zinc Oxide doing in my peanut butter?) And let’s not forget the trans fats conveniently hidden in there.
Now consider exhibit B, Smuckers Natural Peanut Butter:
Ah! Now that’s what I call a list of ingredients: peanuts and salt. Wow – sweet music to any fitness zealot (and I know you are one!). True, it contains a few more calories from fat than the Jif product, but the excess is a type of fat called unsaturated fat that is not as harmful as saturated fats (more on this later).
OK. So we found a product that excludes bad ingredients. So is this the best? What if someone else not only removed the bad stuff, but also added some good stuff to boot?
Presenting the grand prize winner and the product in my own pantry: Exhibit C, Smart Balance Omega Peanut Butter:
Not only does it include all natural ingredients, but it includes 1000mg of Omega-3 fatty acids per serving. Omega-3 fats are essential fatty acids (the body cannot produce it and stores very little of it) and have numerous health benefits including reducing the risk of coronary disease.
Peanut butter is also a wonderful source of protein and taken in limited quantities is a dependable sidekick to the fitness enthusiast.
[tags]health, fitness, peanut butter, omega 3, fatty acids[/tags]
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Too bad we can’t get Smart Balance products in Canada. We get Kraft, Skippy and Jiffy Peanut Butters which all add unhealthy Hydrogenated Oils. Why can’t any of the largest selling brands be more considerate of consumer’s health instead of just using what is cheapest and most convenient in their products?
I just started my diet, which the goals are to
get a bit more definition on my overall physic.
The diet suggests something like a spoonful peanut butter to go along with a low carb meal and I found the SmartBalance peanut butter in my store. Then I saw your review endorsing it and I’m pretty psyched I went with it over the jiffy and smuckers.
Good Luck on your diet Mike!
Peanut Butter is an excellent supplement to any healthy eating plan with a combination of proteins and good fats. Do remember, though, that moderation is key here,although upto two spoonfuls a day should be OK for most people.
-FM.
It is rather unfortunate to see responsible people in your country fooling around with people’s health like this. We have it here in Trinidad.Peanut butter is made here among other things and on the peanut butter container it tells us hydrogenated oil is within. I am sure the manufacturers know about its effects, but they are waiting for some action. So help me I’ll give it to them. I will start by sending them some of this literature.
Low Carb diet is really the best diet if you want to reduce weight and also to maintain a healthy body.~.~
Honestly, I think Smucker’s should’ve won a place in your pantry. Smucker’s has only two natural ingredients, peanuts and salt, whereas Smart Balance is throwing in palm oils (palm oils are one of the few highly saturated vegetable fats). Many processed foods contain palm oil. Palm oil gives its name to the 16-carbon saturated fatty acid palmitic acid.
“True, it contains a few more calories from fat than the Jif product, but the excess is a type of fat called unsaturated fat that is not as harmful as saturated fats (more on this later).”
Don’t be fooled when packages speak by using words like “High in Omega 3′s!” The food has been fortified with this synthetic fatty acid. It’s sad how scientists think they can give us something better than mother nature. Eat fish to get your omega 3′s, and leave it out of my peanut butter!
Thanks for the post.
peanut butters are very tasty, the only problem is that i have some very bad peanut allergy *~*
@Peter: in Canada we have a nut butter company called Nuts To You! Check ‘em out… I make my own
{ 2 trackbacks }