Oh, nutella.
Who didn’t love this stuff as a kid? Back in the good ol’ days when reading labels wasn’t a concern. If you’re still regularly consuming this stuff, it’s time to look deeper into this chocolatey vortex.
Most people are unaware that Nutella contains monosodium glutamate, or MSG. It’s also called E621, sounds delicious right? One of the main problems aside from this ingredient being present, is the purposeful attempt to hide it’s name.
These companies spend big money trying to carefully conceal these words from the public eye; it’s clear our health isn’t their first priority.
Every Nutella jar is labeled with an artificial flavor called vanillin which is actually MSG. It also contains a toxic GMO emulsifier called soy lecithin. These are definitely things we don’t want to be putting in our body, and this company knows that quite well.
There is also palm oil in Nutella which, the extraction of, causes major harm to forests and wildlife in the world.
Nutella originally started as a small company in Italy in the year 1964. According to their site now, their ingredients list seems short and sweet. They claim their product doesn’t contain any artificial colors and adds no artificial preservatives.
So how true is this?
Unfortunately, not at all; it is a blatant lie. All of their ingredients undergoes a heavy processing procedure which makes a lot of the contents actually artificial. If you take something natural and process it, it can’t still be called “100% natural”.
Especially the ingredient soy lecithin, this thing is as far from natural as it gets. It’s no surprise that large companies are hiding their dirty laundry in plain sight, but once you know this information, don’t keep consuming it! At least, not regularly.
Vanillin is an artificial flavor thats very similar to the word vanilla, so of course, many people will assume it’s harmless. The actual smell and flavor of vanillin are completely manufactured and aren’t straight extracts from the vanilla bean.
Our bodies aren’t designed to break down the molecules of harsh chemicals, even when it seems like the worst that could happen is an upset stomach. It takes more of our energy to break down processed materials and long term usage can raise cholesterol and create heart problems.
There are many healthy alternatives to nutella, including straight cocoa. It is much more bitter but with a bit of honey or natural sweetener, you’re good to go.
A recipe for a natural nutella:
- 1 cup hazelnuts, soaked overnight
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 cup raw cacao powder
- 2-4 tablespoons coconut milk
Give this a try and see how you feel after! You may want to never go back to store bought chocolate spread every again!