Can you pour the oil off the top of Natural Peanut Butter?
I want to eat peanut butter!!! I just can't make myself put a spoonfull of 12 gms of fat on my bread or anything else. So I thought.............I will buy some natural peanut butter and then just pour the oil off the top.
Anybody done this? Is it still edible? Does it really make the fat content and calories go down by pouring off the oil?
I bet it does make the calories/fat go down, but that type of fat is GOOD for you! And besides, you need some healthy fat in your diet. Don't throw it out!
I always pour at least half of the fat off when the jar is new (save the fat). I then churn it to mix it the best I can. When about half way done it often gets very hard so I pour a bit of the fat back and mix it in. Also, when it's just too hard to spread I micro it for a few seconds.
I have know ides weather or not this changes the calories. I just count what it says on the jar.
The oil in peanut butter is mostly monosaturated and is a "heart-healthy" fat that is good for you.
Fat is definitely not all evil, we need healthy fat in our diets. The only time that dieting ever made me sick was during an extreme low fat diet in college, I didn't menstruate and my hair fell out by the handful in the shower.
Ever since, I've made it a goal to get enough healthy fat every day, at least 25% of my calories come from healthy fats (olive oil, nuts/nut butters, olives, salmon, avocados).
If you are looking to cut down on the calorie content of peanut butter, look at portion size rather than removing the fat!
Essential fats establish and maintain our health by:
Increasing energy, performance, and stamina
EFA's enhance thermo genesis, help build muscle, prevent muscle break down, and speed recovery from fatigue
Strengthening the immune system
EFA's make hormone-like eicosanoids that regulate immune and inflammatory responses
N-3s have anti-inflammatory effects and can slow autoimmune damage[/I]
Lowering risk factors for cardiovascular disease
EFA's (especially n3s) lower abnormally high levels of blood pressure, triglycerides, Lp(a), fibrinogen, tendency to clot formation, and inflammation
Improving brain function: mood, intelligence , behavior, and vision
Our brain is over 60% fat. EFA's are important components of the entire nervous system
They are necessary to make the neurotransmitter serotonin
Depression and other brain diseases show decreased levels of n-3
Aiding in weight reduction
EFA's help keep mood and energy up and suppress appetite, thereby aiding in weight loss.
More recently, they have been found to block the genes that produce fat in the body (saturated and trans fat do not have this same effect) and increase thermogenesis
Regulating organs and glands
Liver and kidneys, adrenal and thyroid glands, and the production of
male and female hormones need EFA's
Speeding up the recovery and healing process
EFA's are necessary for cell growth and division
They form all cell membranes and regulate vital cell activity
Supporting healthy child development
For nervous system development, a growing fetus needs optimum EFA's from the mother's body.
Mothers become depleted of EFA's during pregnancy, and need optimal EFA intake for their health and their children's optimum development
Improving digestion
Poorly digested foods tie up the immune system and can cause gut inflammation, leaky gut, and allergies
N-3s improve gut integrity, and decrease inflammation and "leaky gut"
Decreasing chance of infection
EFA's have anti-fungal, anti-yeast, and anti-microbial properties, helping to protect against infections
Keeping bones strong
EFA's aid in the transport of minerals that keep bones and teeth strong, helping to prevent osteoporosis
Protecting genetic material
EFA's regulate gene expression, and n-3s inhibit tumor growth
Easing PMS
Studies indicate that n-6 (GLA) intake was voted, by women, among the top three most effective PMS treatments. N-3s may be even more effective
Producing beautiful skin, hair, and nails
Some of the first signs of EFA deficiency are dry, flaky skin, dull hair, and brittle nails. N-3s can help skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and acne
Also, GLA (n-6 derivative) administration is useful for some patients with atopic eczema
I pour about 3/4 of it off. I know it's good fat, but I figure there is still a lot of good fat left in the rest of the contents of the jar. I also pour most of the oil off of prepackaged pesto sauce. In both of these cases, I pour it off more because I like the texture of both better when they're less oily.
The obsessive counter in me wants to know how you would count what you were eating if you altered it? I only eat something when I know EXACTLY what the calories are. So, if I poured off the oil I would be altering the calorie content and it would suddenly be placed in the "unknown" category and then I'd be unable to make myself eat it at all!
if you pour the oil out, it will make the peanut butter dry and nasty. plus the oil in peanut butter is good for you. I usually do 1/2 the serving so it cuts the calories and fat in half. and it is plenty. so instead of 2 tbsp I have one.
Without the oil, the peanut butter in the bottom of the jar can only be gotten out with a hammer and chisel, and is a lot like trying to eat morter. I'm sure you could use it to lay bricks that would last forever.