By Paul Rothbart
Originating in Italy during the Second World War, Nutella has been popular in Europe for decades. In recent years it has caught on in the U.S. Traditionally marketed as a dessert topping (it's manufactured by a chocolate company) it has become a bread spread that people use on toast and in place of peanut butter. The health benefits of peanut butter are well known. Nutella tastes good. Is it healthy too? Let's take a closer look.
What's In It?
Nutella has a simple list of ingredients. Its unique flavor comes from hazelnut paste and cocoa. It also contains skim milk powder, soy lecithin, and vanillin. Vanillin naturally comes from vanilla beans, but Nutella uses a synthetic variety. Its creamy texture comes from the addition of palm oil. A two-tablespoon serving contains 200 calories, 21 grams of sugar, and 12 grams of fat. It also has small amounts of protein, iron, and calcium. This is not much nutrition and many of the ingredients are bad for your health.
Sugar
Nutella tastes sweet because it contains a large amount of sugar. A serving of Nutella contains more sugar than an equally-sized serving of chocolate cake frosting. Excess sugar can be very harmful. It has been linked to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, liver disease, and cognitive decline. It's especially bad for children as the American Heart Association recommends no more than 25 grams of sugar a day and Nutella has 21 in a serving.
Calories and Fat
A serving of Nutella is small but contains 200 calories. Because people love its taste, many consume more than one serving at a time. Those calories add up fast. They provide little nutrition and can easily lead to being overweight or obese.
Nutella is also heavy in unhealthy fats. One of its main ingredients, palm oil, is loaded with saturated fats. These can contribute to cardiovascular disease. While it is OK to consume some palm oil, it should be in small amounts. Given its popularity, the palm oil content of Nutella can easily reach an unhealthy level.
It Is Not A Peanut Butter Substitute
Nutella should not be used as a substitute for peanut butter or any other nut butter despite the hazelnuts in it. It does not have anywhere near the nutritional content of nut butters and is much higher in sugar and fat.
Nutella has caught on worldwide with its creamy texture and sweet taste. Having some in moderation can be done without serious health damage. But it should be used as a dessert spread, just as it is marketed. Treat it like cake, candy, or any other sweet. Don't make it a regular part of your diet.
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FAQs
Although Nutella contains a small amount of calcium and iron, it's not very nutritious and high in sugar, calories and fat. Nutella contains sugar, palm oil, hazelnuts, cocoa, milk powder, lecithin and synthetic vanillin. It is high in calories, sugar and fat.
Why did people think Nutella was healthy? ›
Customers who don't read the nutritional information carefully may perceive that Nutella is relatively low in calories, sugar and fat, when these numbers would be low due to the small serving size. Nutella commercials focus on advertising the spread as a quick and healthy option for breakfast, especially for children.
Why is Nutella popular? ›
Nutella® is famous for its authentic hazelnut and cocoa taste, made even more irresistible by its unique creaminess.
Is it okay to eat Nutella sometimes? ›
Correction: it's harmless. Nutella is not “nu*tritionally complete” — you don't want to make it the main portion of your diet — but it's harmless and will have no negative effect on you when eaten in moderation (unless you're allergic to nuts — then you should avoid it).
What is healthier Nutella or avocado? ›
Avocado has 20 important nutrients and provides antioxidants and health-protective fat, she said. Nutella contains more additives — including sugar — than it does hazelnuts, she said. "Comparing these two is like comparing 1 cup of fresh blueberries (85 calories) to 10 gummy bears (85 calories)," she said.
Is there any healthy chocolate? ›
Dark chocolate is by far the healthiest form of the treat, containing the least sugar and, because of its cocoa content, higher levels of substances that protect the body's cells.
Is Nutella ok for kids? ›
Breakfasts such as these will in no way support the learning of children. Nutella is a spreadable candy bar. High sugar intake first thing in the morning will spike blood sugar levels, resulting in a plummet mid morning and may contribute to poor concentration, hyper activity and aggression.
Is Nutella healthier than peanut butter? ›
While Nutella might win in terms of sweetness and indulgence, peanut butter is the clear winner from a nutritional standpoint. It's not just a healthier choice; it's a versatile food that supports a healthy lifestyle.
Why is the N in Nutella black? ›
After doing some research, according to multiple resources, the letter N is black because the name 'Nutella' was originally used by another brand. So they simply changed the colour of the letter to ensure there wasn't a trademark issue.
Why is Nutella so addictive? ›
Apart from sugar and fat, Nutella is rich in chocolate. Chocolate contains addictive substances such as tryptophan and phenylethylamine. This causes feelings of excitement and attraction. American blogger Sara Rosso established World Nutella day on 5th February 2007.
According to the Ferrero company's statistics, France is considered to be the largest consumer of Nutella in the world where over 25% of the world's production is consumed and produced each year.
How successful is Nutella? ›
Nutella also has impressive metrics. A jar of Nutella gets sold every two seconds, about 12 million bottles get sold each year, and over a quarter of the hazelnuts farmed and produced globally end up in a jar of Nutella. And the spread still accounts for over 20% of Ferrero's sales.
Is Nutella healthy or junk? ›
They provide little nutrition and can easily lead to being overweight or obese. Nutella is also heavy in unhealthy fats. One of its main ingredients, palm oil, is loaded with saturated fats. These can contribute to cardiovascular disease.
Is there a healthier version of Nutella? ›
In the debate between Nutella and Pyure Hazelnut Spread, Pyure emerges as the superior choice for those who seek a low-sugar, keto and vegan* option. Nutella may have its allure, but when considering factors like sugar content and ingredients, Pyure stands out as the clear winner.
Can dogs eat Nutella? ›
In addition, you should never give Nutella to your pet willingly because this product has a high sugar and fat content, which could lead to pancreatitis, and cocoa also contains theobromine, an alkaloid toxic to dogs. The more theobromine is consumed, the more severe the clinical signs will be.
Is Nutella real or not? ›
Nutella (US: /nuːˈtɛlə/ noo-TEL-ə, UK: /nʌˈtɛlə/ nuh-TEL-ə, Italian: [nuˈtɛlla]) is a brand of brown, sweetened hazelnut cocoa spread. Nutella is manufactured by the Italian company Ferrero and was introduced in 1964, although its first iteration dates to 1963.
Is Nutella bad for your cholesterol? ›
Health teacher Mr. Jeffrey Raucci remarks “For others who eat it as a snack and are not very active, there are a lot of saturated and trans fats in the ingredients which can lead to high cholesterol and cardiovascular disease.” Eating too much Nutella can cause many health problems.
Can we eat Nutella without anything? ›
It is not usually eaten by itself as a standalone snack or dessert. Instead, it is typically used in small amounts to add flavor and sweetness to other foods. Some people may enjoy eating Nutella by itself as a treat, but it is not a common way to eat it.
