Why nutella is bad for you

Harvard Health Publishing. Harvard Medical School. By the way, doctor: Is palm oil good for you? Updated March 18, Nutrition Information. Trans fat. Updated May 18, World Wildlife Federation. Sustainable Agriculture. Palm oil. Our palm oil. Relationship between added sugars consumption and chronic disease risk factors: Current understanding.

Cancer risk estimation of glycidol based on rodent carcinogenicity studies, a multiplicative risk model and in vivo dosimetry. Food and Chemical Toxicology. The impacts of oil palm on recent deforestation and biodiversity loss.

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Table of Contents. What Is Palm Oil? Health Risks. Palm Oil in Nutella. Other Products. Call a dessert a dessert and move on, or be sued!

They were sued for healthwashing! A two-tablespoon 37 gram serving of Nutella contains calories including:. In addition, the spread contains 15mg of sodium and just two sad little grams of protein per serving. Modified palm oil, however, is far from clean. It is one of the more toxic and damaging types of fats we can consume. Despite the lovely visual of hazelnuts tumbling across the screen in the television commercial, the first ingredient in Nutella is plain old, white, refined, most likely GMO sugar.

Hazelnuts make their appearance after sugar and palm oil. When the sugar from the refined carbohydrates meets the sugar from the chocolate spread, boom — there goes your energy and blood sugar balance for the day. Breakfasts such as these will in no way support the learning of children. You know how we feel about those, right? We love fat, but it needs to come from natural, unprocessed sources , otherwise we are eating cancer-contributing refined oils that only serve to promote inflammation in the body and challenge our heart, liver, brain, endocrine and nervous systems to function efficiently.

In my book UnDiet I wrote the following:. These oils are highly processed and most commonly genetically modified, unless specifically labeled organic. Many of them, such as cottonseed and soy, carry loads of chemicals. The high heat processing destroys any nutrients that may naturally occur like vitamin E and omega-3 essential fatty acids.

To make margarine the spreadable consistency people seem to dig, the oil must be hardened. This is done by hydrogenation or bubbling hydrogen through the vegetable oil at high temperature, a process that enables it to be solid at room temperature.

This is the same property that makes it perfect as frosting on cakes. When the carbon bonds are saturated with hydrogen, the product is called a saturated fat or a hydrogenated oil. Treats are awesome. If you are actually looking for a healthy spread, Nutella is not it. You are better off running some hazelnut through your food processor and adding a little honey and pinch of salt. Toss in some cacao if you want the chocolate vibe. But check this comparison.

Hazelnuts: 3 grams 2 grams from Fibre 0. Remember, the fat in hazelnuts is the really awesomely delicious brain-building and nervous system supportive variety.

Why start your day with processed chocolate spread when you can start it with amazing oatmeal or a smoothie or even pastured eggs? If what you are seeking is the quick and easy, I have loads more ideas here. First shared via the Academy of Culinary Nutrition is a dairy-free and nut-free nutella alternative. Originally posted here. Get empowered! Enjoy this directory of Healthwashing resources that will empower you to understand food labels. Learn More. Note: Feature photo at the top of the post comes from t his Mashable article.

Not only do you get refined sugar from Nutella, you also get about 11g of fat with 3. The combination of saturated fat and sugar also puts you at a greater risk of developing heart disease. Soy Lecithin and Vanillin: These are probably the most dangerous ingredients found in Nutella. Soy lecithin in particular is bad for your health because it is a GMO product and leads to issues such as obesity, thyroid dysfunction, constipation, and breast cancer.

Vanillin is used to create a flavor of true vanilla, but it is a cheaply produced chemical that contains MSG as well as small amounts of neurotoxins that can kill brain cells. Modified Palm Oil: It is a highly processed oil and is not nearly as nutritious a natural palm oil.

Manufacturers make use of refined and modified palm oil because it has a longer shelf life and tastes better. Some companies also use modified palm oil in place of hydrogenated oils, which leads to several health issues, especially when you consume it regularly. Alternatives to Try When you know Nutella is bad and you should avoid consuming it, you may also be wondering if there is anything else you can replace it with.

You can add more sweeteners for better taste. French Toast with Wings Ingredients: 4 slices of bread A teaspoon of cinnamon 2 eggs Half teaspoon of nutmeg Pinch of allspice Pinch of love Coconut oil for cooking Instructions : Cut small slices of bread.

Mix spices and eggs together. Place eggs and bread into a bowl and leave for a few minutes until the pieces soak up the mixture. Heat a skillet and apply coconut oil. Eating one or two servings of it every day could lead to weight gain over time, especially for a child. What makes Nutella so calorie-dense is the high amount of fat it contains. After sugar, palm oil is the second most abundant ingredient in Nutella.

While fats are beneficial to health in many ways, consuming too much fat can lead to weight gain. Being overweight or obese increases the risk of many chronic diseases, including heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers 7.

While it does contain vanillin, a synthetic form of vanilla flavoring, the rest of its ingredients are natural. One could argue that the limited ingredients found in Nutella make it a better option than other more processed dessert spreads. It does not contain high-fructose corn syrup , hydrogenated oils or artificial food colorings , all of which are ingredients of concern for health-conscious consumers. This may make Nutella more attractive to shoppers who are trying to avoid products made with lots of artificial or highly processed ingredients.

Nutella is high in calories, sugar and fat, all of which could cause health problems over time if consumed in high amounts. It does contain more natural ingredients than some similar products, which may be attractive to consumers. Although Nutella does contain a small amount of hazelnut paste, it should not be used as a nut butter substitute. Nut butters, including peanut butter , almond butter and cashew butter, are also high in calories and fat.

However, natural nut butters offer far more nutritional benefits than Nutella. While some nut butters do contain oils and added sugars, natural nut butters only contain nuts and sometimes salt. For example, a 2-tablespoon gram serving of natural almond butter contains 8 :. As you can see, natural almond butter provides many important nutrients that the body needs to function and thrive. Natural nut butters are much more nutritious than Nutella, providing more protein, less sugar and lots of important nutrients.

Like any high-sugar food, Nutella should be viewed as a treat. The problem is that people often use it more as a breakfast spread than as a dessert. Consuming Nutella every day will increase the amount of added sugar in your diet, and most people already consume much more added sugar than is recommended.