Categories: HEALTH & WELLNESS

Naturally More: Peanut Butter Minus the Trans Fats Plus Omega-3 and Omega-6 Essential Fatty Acids and Phytonutrients

After listening to Dr. Oz expound on the evils of trans fats on Oprah, I decided to give Naturally More, a peanut butter devoid of trans fats, a try. I quickly scanned the list of ingredients on the jar of Naturally More peanut butter to make sure the words “partially hydrogenated oils” a.k.a. trans fats were not present. Next to the nutrition label was the following statement, “Naturally More is all-natural, contains no cholesterol, and has a peanut butter base fortified with flax seed, flax oil and other nutrients to provide all the protein and essential fats needed to keep the body naturally balanced. While normal peanut butter is almost exclusively monosaturated fat, Naturally More contains omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids. It’s what peanut butter should be!” Well, that sounded promising. I promptly placed the 16 oz jar of Naturally More peanut butter for $2.66 into my cart. Upon further inspection, taste test and research at home, this is what I found.

Packaging
Naturally More peanut butter comes packaged in a squat plastic jar with a yellow colored top. The design on the Naturally More peanut butter label gives it an organic and natural look that represents the brand and its ingredients well.

Spreadability
Because Naturally More peanut butter lacks the unhealthy trans fats that most snack manufacturers use to add shelf life to their food products, Naturally More peanut butter must be kept refrigerated to prevent spoilage. Refrigeration makes Naturally More peanut butter slightly less easy to spread compared to other peanut butter brands that can be stored at room temperature.

Texture
Naturally More peanut butter is creamy yet hearty. The wheat germ and flax seed add a delicate crunchiness. The lack of unhealthy trans fats in Naturally More peanut butter may cause a thin layer of oil to separate from the rest of of the peanut butter. If this occurs, simply stir it.

Taste
The combination of peanuts, wheat germ, flax seed and honey gives Naturally More peanut butter a subtle yet hearty taste.

Ingredients
Roasted Peanuts
Wheat Germ
Flax Seed
Cane Sugar
Egg Whites
Honey
Flax Seed Oil

Nutrition
Naturally More peanut butter is packed with all kinds of good stuff. Compared to other peanut butter brands, Naturally More peanut butter has more protein and fiber and less net carbohydrates and fat per serving. Peanuts by themselves pack a high protein punch along with a high unsaturated fat content. Egg whites add healthy protein to Naturally More peanut butter without any added cholesterol.

Dr. Oz would be proud. Not only is Naturally More peanut butter free of trans fats, it has the added benefit of essential Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids derived from flax oil. Omega-3 essential fatty acids promote good cardiovascular health by lowering bad cholesterol levels.

Flax seed is a good source of high quality protein, fiber and vitamins (vitamins B-1, B-2, C, E, and carotene). Moreover, flax seed is an excellent source of a phytonutrient called lignin. According to the Stanford Comprehensive Cancer Center website, phytonutrients such as lignin may decrease the risk of developing certain cancers as well as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease.

Wheat germ, another nutrient dense ingredient of Naturally More peanut butter, is rich in vitamin E, minerals and fiber.

Cane sugar and honey sweeten Naturally More peanut butter. According to Dr. Oz, sugar should be consumed sparingly and come together with fat or some element like fiber to avoid a sudden drop in blood sugar levels that causes us to feel hungry and overeat. Naturally More peanut butter comes with 4 grams of fiber per serving and 9 grams of healthy unsaturated fat including 4.1 grams of omega-3 and 1.2 grams of omega-6 essential fatty acids.

To make Naturally More peanut butter completely Dr. Oz worthy, the makers of Naturally More may want to consider making their peanut butter from raw nuts instead of roasted nuts. According to Dr. Oz, nuts should be eaten in their natural form without any heat or damage to its healthy oils. However, with its lack of trans fats and its inclusion of whole grains and healthy oils, Naturally More peanut butter is one of the healthiest and tastiest peanut butter brands out there.