Peanut Butter trans fat

There’s good fat and there’s bad fat.  Peanut butter is ‘supposed’ to be good but peanut butter trans fat?  What’s that all about?

Good fat vs. bad fat

So, what’s the difference between good fat and bad fat?  For years, everyone thought that all fat was bad but that’s not true.  Today, we know there is good fat and there is bad fat so let’s dive into what each of these are.

The good fat…

Good fats are fats that help our bodies function.  Contrary to popular belief, not all fats are bad.  Thankfully, we are getting away from thinking that all fats are bad.  Here is a list of some good fats and all of these are OK to eat but in moderation.  We don’t want to eat too much of these but it is necessary for our bodies so that we can absorb fat soluble vitamins like Vitamin’s E and K, among others.

• Saturated fats – usually found in animal proteins (think beef), plus whole dairy – meaning not ‘fat free dairy’ like we were always led to believe.  Aside from allowing our bodies to absorb fat soluble vitamins, it also helps our liver by knocking out those free radicals.  They also support our metabolism.  Yay for that!
• Monounsaturated fat – these are found in avocados and olive oil.  I love avocados because they are so creamy and you can even substitute it for mayonnaise.
• Polyunsaturated fats – found in fish, seeds and nuts like Peanut butter (which help our skin look beautiful!)
• Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids – these are essential to our health / diet because we have to eat foods that have these fatty acids since our bodies are unable to make them.  These help our hormones and so they are very important to eat.  You’ll start noticing hormonal issues if you don’t get enough of these essential fatty acids.

Peanut Butter trans fat – The bad fat…

The bad fats are the trans fats.  I’m sure you’ve heard of them.  While they are unsaturated, they have been hydrogenated when they have been heated and thus become saturated fat.  They are SO bad for you!  Foods to stay away from:

• Packaged cookies / cakes / pies
• Anything fried!
• Processed foods, including peanut butter with trans fat (unless you make your own or buy the natural kind)

Stay away from these types of foods and you’ll be glad you did.  No trans fat anymore because they cause all kinds of hormonal issues and your body can have inflammation issues.   So, while it’s OK to eat peanut butter, buy the natural peanut butter instead of the non-natural or make your own.  Read your labels.  You’ll see that the non-natural varieties have hydrogenated vegetable oil in peanut butter.  Stay away from those.

Another option

If you’re worried about peanut butter trans fat and the natural peanut butters are too expensive, why not make your own peanut butter?  It’s so easy but you do need a good high-powered blender or food processor.  All you need is peanut butter (and a pinch of salt).  Here’s how to make your own peanut butter:

1. Place 16 ounces of unsalted peanuts in your blender.  I use unsalted peanuts because I can control the amount of salt.
2. Add a pinch of salt.
3. Turn on the blender on the lowest speed.  Gradually increase the speed but you’ll likely need to stop it several times to re-distribute the butter / peanuts so they blend well, especially when you notice that your blender sounds like it is working too hard.  Always be watchful – you’ll know when you have to stop it to do a mix.
4. Continue doing this until the peanut butter is the proper consistency.  Note that the proper consistency is the way you like your peanut butter.  If you like it crunchy, you won’t need to process it too long.  But, if you like it smooth, just let it go longer.

It’s so easy to make your own peanut butter and so economical too!  So, stop with the Peanut Butter trans fat – find a good natural one or make it yourself – you’ll be glad you did.