Imagine blending
modified palm oil,
skim milk powder,
cocoa,
hazelnuts, and whole lot of
sugar – that's how Nutella is technically made.
In fact, Nutella contains 10.4 percent of
saturated fat and 58% of processed sugar by weight. A two-tablespoon (37-gram) serving of Nutella contains 200 calories, including 99 calories from 11 grams of fat (3.5 g of which are saturated) and 80 calories from 21 grams of sugar. The spread also contains 15 mg of sodium and 2 g of protein per serving.
You're probably thinking, what if I gather up these ingredients and do it myself, will I have homemade chocolate spread?
Not quite. Nutella uses
modified palm oil rather than regular vegetable oil because it remains solid at room temperature. This modified oil is not sold in grocery stores, but is used in the food industry to increase shelf-life. Whey powder is then added to prevent the product from coagulating, stabilizing the fat emulsions. Similarly,
lecithin, a form of a fatty substance found in animal and plant tissues, is added to make the paste spreadable. Finally,
Vanillin is added to enhance the sweetness of the chocolate.
Now you be the judge,
is Nutella even healthy?
