Peanut butter is amazingly tasty, a rock-solid partner in weight management, and can be used many ways. Natural peanut butter is peanut butter in its purest form without added sugar and free of unidentifiable ingredients that keep it shelf-stable for an eternity.
When comparing natural vs. regular peanut butters, the nutrition labels are not that different from each other. You can get the same health benefits from natural or regular peanut butter; however, you will get added oils, sugars, and other preservatives from the regular stuff. Hence, this is why natural peanut butter is called “natural”. The only ingredients should be peanuts and salt, unless it is unsalted. Because there are no preservatives, it must be refrigerated.
Understanding Peanut Butter
Peanut butter has been an inexpensive favorite through the life cycle, but recently confusion has arisen concerning the types of peanut butter that we eat – what is the difference between commercial and “natural” peanut butter? And are both types healthy?
To be called peanut butter, both commercial and “natural” types must contain a minimum of 90% peanuts, with no artificial sweeteners, colors, or preservatives. This includes the chunky version. Commercial peanut butters are blended or homogenized for convenience and for creaminess, whereas “natural” peanut butters require stirring and are not as smooth in texture.
To stabilize commercial peanut butter blends and eliminate separation,
manufacturers may add a small amount (less than 1-2%) of partially hydrogenated, or fully hydrogenated oil. For added flavor, some commercial brands may also add small amounts of sugar or salt. Even with these additions, changes in macronutrient content per serving compared to “natural” peanut butter are minimal.