Palm oil. Palm oil is commonly used in peanut butter to help solidify the product, but is high in saturated fat. Avoid this ingredient if possible.
It's true that partially hydrogenated vegetable oil—which manufacturers add to many peanut butters to keep them from separating—supplies trans fat, an especially unhealthy form of fat that may harm the heart, among other things, by raising bad (LDL) cholesterol and lowering good (HDL) cholesterol.
Natural Way Peanut Butter is an innovative line of peanut butter that is good for you and provides a natural and fantastic taste! What is special about Natural Way Peanut Butter: Made with Olive Oil instead of Palm Oil or Hydrogenated Vegetable Oils. Minimal to no Added Sugar.
While peanuts contain mostly good monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, they do contain a small amount of saturated fat. And palm oil is naturally high in saturated fat. I'd say that half-gram of saturated fat in your peanut butter stabilized with hydrogenated oil is not much to worry about.
Peanut oil is rich in vitamin E, an antioxidant that offers many protective benefits against chronic disease. This, along with its healthy fat content, means peanut oil can be a great addition to your diet — as long as you consume it in moderation.
What Should You Avoid? Sugar/sweeteners. Look out for added sugars or sweeteners in the form of evaporated cane juice, corn syrup solids, high fructose corn syrup, molasses, honey, etc. Hydrogenated oils.
Peanut butters with stable hydrogenated oils last longer. But hydrogenated oils also introduce artery-clogging saturated and trans fats to peanut butter's otherwise-healthy fat profile. Trans fats are some of the worst ingredients commonly found in food.
No Trans Fats in Peanut Butter--Contrary to Current Rumor
The rumors no doubt started because small amounts of hydrogenated vegetable oils are added to commercial peanut butters--at 1 to 2 percent of total weight--to prevent the peanut oil from separating out.
It is OK to eat peanut butter every day, but in moderation. Do not eat more than 2 tablespoons, approximately 32 grams, a day. This protein-packed spread is made by blending roasted peanuts into a thick paste and contains various nutrients that promote good health.
It has a high content of Vitamin E, monounsaturated fats and Beta-Sitosterl that has been implicated in healthy levels of blood cholesterol. It is considered Vegan, Lactose Free, Gluten Free, Glutamate Free, BSE Free, No Hydrogenated or Partially Hydrogenated Oils, No Preservatives.
Fully hydrogenated oils are probably better for you than partially hydrogenated oils because they don't contain trans fats. Still, it's hard to say they're good for your health—less dangerous is a better way to put it. Fully hydrogenated oils are mostly stearic acid, which is a less harmful form of saturated fat.
Hydrogenated oils are oils that have had hydrogen added to them to make them less likely to spoil. The difference between partially hydrogenated and fully hydrogenated fats is that the partial hydrogenation creates trans-fats, while fully hydrogenated, the oil returns to a “zero trans-fat” level.
Peanuts contain mostly mono- and polyunsaturated fats, which can help lower “bad” LDL cholesterol, and they are high in protein and fiber. Malik recommends eating peanuts with the skins intact, because they contain anti-inflammatory polyphenols.
Peanut butter can be a healthy addition to a meal or snack, but not all peanut butters are the same. Some are full of unhealthy trans fats and hydrogenated oils.
The palm oil used in nut butters is in its oxidized (processed) form, which means that it not only provides zero useful nutrition or flavor, it also could have negative health effects.
Although care must be taken in handling and processing of canola oil and other vegetable oils, canola oil is a safe and healthy form of fat that will reduce blood LDL cholesterol levels and heart disease risk compared to carbohydrates or saturated fats such as found in beef tallow or butter.
Peanut oil is higher in saturated fat, with 18%, making it slightly less healthy than canola oil, but it still contains 48% monounsaturated fat and 34% polyunsaturated fat. An all-purpose oil that's high in monounsaturated fats, peanut oil is also about 30% polyunsaturated fats and 20% saturated.