Everybody loves Nutella, whether it’s on your toast, on biscuits or you just eat it straight from the jar with a spoon.
But after reading this article, you will NEVER want to eat it again.
Most of us will agree that the chocolate spread is hardly nutritious, but you’ll be surprised how much harm there is in a jar that mostly tastes of nuts, vanilla, milk and chocolate…
Apparently, there is quite a lot, especially if you eat it on a regular basis.
In the United States, Ferrero, maker of Nutella, was sued for false advertising that led some to believe that Nutella carries nutritional and health benefits, being branded as ‘part of a nutritious breakfast’.
So what makes Nutella so bad?
Lets look at the ingredients that are printed on the side of the jar: sugar, palm oil, hazelnuts, cocoa, milk, Soy Lecithin and vanillin.
First, health experts have concerns about Soy Lecithin.
This is a non-fermented, genetically modified type of soy that the body struggles to digest – unlike the naturally fermented soy used in Asian diets.
It can affect the body’s hormone levels because it is highly processed, and some health experts even warn pregnant women, infants and breast cancer survivors should avoid this ingredient.
Then there’s vanillin.
This isn’t the stress reliever and mood enhancer from Madagascar.
This is an artificial flavour made entirely from chemicals devised in a lab to trick your taste buds into believing it’s the real thing, it tastes and smells like vanilla, but it couldn’t be more different.
Some reports say it contains MSG, which is also known as a “slow poison” to scientists.
Another controversial ingredient is Palm Oil.
It is high in saturated fats, which can lead to heart disease and raise cholesterol levels, it is also difficult to digest and can increase toxicity levels in the kidney, liver and lungs.
The method of getting this common cooking oil involves massive deforestation – which threatens the survival of wildlife species like the orangutans – indigenous rights abuses and animal cruelty.
Nutella is also full of calories.
Despite the lovely visual hazelnuts tumbling across the screen in the adverts, the main ingredient in Nutella is plain old, white, refined, mostly GMO sugar.
Two tablespoons of the spread contains 200 calories, 11 grams of fat and 21 grams of sugar – that’s about half as much as a can of coke.
We repeat TWO TABLESPOONS.
As well as this, you’re probably not spreading Nutella on celery sticks. It’s going on toast, crepes and pancakes. So when the sugar from the refined carbohydrates meets the sugar from the 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.
Since the spread has NO nutritional benefits, it will lead to a spike in blood sugar levels, followed soon after by a crash that could mean poor attention and hyper-activity.
This fact is quite worrying considering most of us will eat half a jar in one sitting.
Rather than removing one of the joys of life, you can easily make your own, using hazelnuts, cocoa powder and hazelnut oil.
But stay VERY clear from Nutella.