Nutella: health benefits and harms

Sweet tooth in different corners of our planet love Nutella chocolate-nut dessert. Pot-bellied jars with this dessert can be freely purchased at any domestic supermarket. The popularity of this product is confirmed by one unusual study, the result of which showed that only with jars of dainty produced in one year, you can encircle the globe at the equator almost twice. Of course, such a statement may cause distrust, but the demand for sweet pasta is growing annually - and this is a proven fact.

Nutella is universal in its intended use, as this product can be an ingredient in other desserts, such as ice cream, or as a separate sweet snack. Chocolate-nut yummy delights the kids, but adults are not averse to feasting on it. The taste characteristics are really amazing, but there is constant debate between doctors, nutritionists and other specialists regarding the usefulness of this product: some people think that dessert is unhealthy, while others, as opposed to opponents, find a lot of positive qualities in it. To understand the ups and downs of this dispute, you need to get to know the confectionery masterpiece more closely, evaluate its composition and impact on the human body.

What is Nutella

According to the gastronomic characteristics, Nutella paste is a spread, which contains milk, nuts, cocoa. This trademark is registered by the Italian company Ferrero, which has been producing the popular sweet goodies for more than half a century since 1964. By the way, this company ranks third in the ranking of the world's largest chocolate manufacturers.

The author of the unique dessert recipe is considered to be the baker Pietro Ferrero, whose name was later taken by the famous manufacturer of the product. The story of the creation of the product is amazing: during the Second World War, the enterprising baker simply decided to compensate for the lack of cocoa during the preparation of chocolate by adding ground hazelnuts. The experiment turned out to be successful, which served as a rapid spread of dessert in all countries and continents. The product was so liked by the sweet tooth that they began to spread it on bread and waffles, and some lovers ate spoons.

The manufacturer of the product is currently considering assigning him the status of “topping for breakfast”, although according to the existing classification Nutella is on the list of desserts.

For most consumers, a change in the classification group may seem insignificant, although it depends on the product category how people perceive its nutritional value.

Composition and calorie content

The manufacturer of the famous dessert, that is, the Ferrero company, is very proud of its brainchild, claiming that the spread contains only natural ingredients. There are no preservatives or synthetic dyes in the paste, which favorably distinguishes nutella from other goodies. But the value of the composition is determined not only by these criteria. In the list of the main components of the composition:

1. Cocoa. For production, only beans grown in the western regions of Africa are used.
2. Powdered milk. Only skimmed product obtained from the processing of pasteurized milk is used. The advantage of milk powder is that it has a longer shelf life and does not need to be cooled in the production of pasta.
3. Sugar. This component accounts for most of the composition. For the preparation of pasta, any type of sugar is used: cane, beet, refined.
4. Palm oil. The mere mention of this product today is of concern to many consumers, as it is considered hazardous to health. But, like many other products, palm oil is different. For pasta Nutella, the manufacturer uses a special technology for processing palm oil, eliminating the presence of harmful trans fats. The content of this certified ingredient provides the product with a firm, stable texture and a long shelf life.
5. Soya Lecithin. By its nature, this component is an emulsifier, that is, it “bonds” all other ingredients. Get it from soybeans. Due to the content of fatty components, soya lecithin gives the paste a uniform consistency.
6. Vanillin. Synthetic vanilla extract is present in Nutella dessert.
7. Nuts. There is no doubt in the naturalness of this component. Usually, hazelnuts are taken to make goodies. The manufacturer claims that in each jar with a sweet treat about 50 chopped hazelnuts.

Although the Italian Nutella treat contains a synthetic aromatic additive in the form of vanillin, the rest of the ingredients are of natural origin. The product does not have corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, that is, all that causes the population of understandable concern. In combination with affordable cost, these characteristics make dessert attractive to a wide range of consumers.

Nutritional value
After reviewing the composition, you can begin to assess the nutritional and beneficial qualities of the sweet product:

Although the manufacturer himself focuses on the content of natural nuts in the product, when studying the label it is noticeable that sugar is the first in the list of components. It accounts for as much as 57% of the total composition.

Also, an impressive part of the composition is occupied by fats (31 g), but there are few proteins - about 7 g in a one-gram serving of goodies.

Moreover, the calorific value of this portion is 530 kcal. As they say, no comment.

But on the other hand, eating 100 g of sweet viscous paste in one sitting is difficult, although possible. Therefore, nutritionists recommend a daily norm of 2 tsp to all adult fans of the famous product. This amount is ideal for a hearty breakfast if you simply spread the Nutella paste on a slice of white bread.

Why Nutella is useful

Having familiarized yourself with the composition and nutritional value of a popular confectionery product, you can begin to study its beneficial properties.

In recent years, in the philistine environment, there has been a strong belief that Nutella is more harmful, if not dangerous, than healthy. But in reality this is a wrong opinion. After all, any product that appears daily on our table, with its excessive consumption, will strike a blow to health. The same goes for the chocolate-nut treat. If you use dessert in moderation, nothing bad will happen.

In addition, with the rational use of the product, the body, on the contrary, will benefit, since nuts contain a complete set of vitamins, a lot of minerals, fiber and other components that are important for the full work of all systems. So, a hearty breakfast with an Italian dessert will provide the body with energy for the whole day, and the content of chocolate in it will increase your mood.

Regarding the presence in the composition of palm oil and sugar - two components about which the debate does not subside, it is advisable to use homemade pasta. Fortunately, there are a huge number of such recipes today. There are even options for homemade Nutella pasta recipes with minimal calories for losing weight.

Some of the positive aspects of a well-known brand's product should be recalled in numbers:

1. The fiber content in two large tablespoons of dessert is 1 g, and this is 4% of the daily needs of the female and 3% of the male body. Fiber is known to improve intestinal motility and even lower cholesterol.
2. Calcium and iron are necessary for the strength of the bone skeleton, normal levels of hemoglobin, strong teeth, and cardiovascular activity. Scientists from the University of Maryland have proven that the presence of these two elements of the periodic table in foods reduces the risk of stroke and cancer. True, the branded product of calcium and magnesium contains a little - only 4% of the required daily portion for an adult.

Now we dwell separately on the benefits of the original product and home cooking options for certain groups of the population.

For women

Since the representatives of the beautiful half of humanity are most concerned about the issue of a beautiful figure and maintaining attractiveness, a sweet-saturated diet for them is prohibited. But sometimes, a couple of times a week, you can be allowed to eat light cereal seasoned with Nutella pasta or a fruit salad for breakfast. But, so as not to risk it, it is better to choose the option of home-made delicacies where you can replace dangerous ingredients with useful ones: for example, instead of "insidious" palm oil, take a creamy or vegetable product, add honey instead of sugar. If you still increase a little portion of nuts, a delicious dessert will turn into a source of healthy vitamins and minerals.

For men

Although men are not inclined to consume sweets, sometimes their stamina also “breaks through” the desire to enjoy a forbidden product. Moreover, they often commit such unworthy deeds in secret, so that the household does not notice it. Nutella pasta is the most suitable for such gastronomic feats. Moreover, no man will not study the composition of the product, thinking about the dangers of excess calories. In order not to provoke the representatives of the stronger sex to commit such acts, it is best to prepare them a home version of a safe treat according to the following recipe:

• raw hazelnuts - 250 g;
• wedge syrup - a third of a glass;
• sea ​​salt - a pinch;
• cocoa (powder) - 50 g;
• a little vanillin and a little water.

First you need to remove the husks from the nuts, and then calcine them in the oven, beat with a blender. The result is an oily mass, which should be combined with syrup, add the remaining components from the list. As a sweetener, you can use a small amount of natural honey. Such a home-made treat will strengthen immunity, increase a man’s working capacity, and improve potency. The product can be stored for a week in the refrigerator, adding to porridge, eating with fruits, spreading on whole grain bread.

During pregnancy

Women in a delicate position are always drawn to special delights in nutrition: some show a craving for salty foods, while others are ready to absorb sweets such as Nutella with spoons. Expectant mothers belonging to the second category can be advised to make nut-free chocolate paste, as this product can cause constipation, which is undesirable for pregnant women. The composition of homemade dessert is extremely simple:

• flour and cocoa powder - 4 tbsp each:
• butter - 50 g;
• milk - 2 glasses;
• sugar - 1.5 cups, but you can reduce the serving.

First mix the loose components, then add milk. Cook the mixture over low heat until it thickens. Add oil at the end of the process.

Such a product will satisfy the gastronomic needs of the expectant mother and will not harm the fetus.

When breastfeeding

The main task of any nursing mother is to take care of the quality nutrition of the baby. But not all women have sufficient production of breast milk, and the strict dietary requirements do not allow the inclusion of many foods that increase lactation in the diet. You can achieve your goal if you include Nutella nut pasta made from the following foods in your meal:

• hazelnuts - 250 g;
• cocoa (sugar free) - 4 tbsp;
• honey or agave - 4 tbsp;
• almond milk - half a glass;
• vanilla - at the end of a knife.

To make the nuts softer, soak them at night. Then with a blender you need to grind all the ingredients.The output should be a creamy substance to which milk is gradually added. It must be ensured that the product does not turn out to be liquid. The paste prepared according to this recipe is rich in healthy fats, minerals, and vitamins. There are quite a few proteins and flavonoids in the treat. A product with such a harmoniously selected formula will not cause allergic reactions, and breast milk will saturate with all the components necessary for the growth and development of the baby.

For kids

It is difficult to find a child who would give up sweets. This explains the increased love of the younger generation for Nutella. Kids and schoolchildren would not mind emptying a jar of dainty at a time. So that children do not upset this behavior, parents should prepare a safe treat for their child from any nuts, honey, butter and cocoa powder. All of the listed ingredients are freely sold in any store. And most importantly - they are all natural. It remains only to mix everything, bring to the state of the paste with a blender.

The advantage of such an option for making a sweet addition to the diet is obvious: firstly, it will be cheaper than buying a branded treat, secondly, this paste is suitable for the whole family, and the third advantage is a set of useful components and a low glycemic index.

When losing weight

Although nuts are healthy, it is a very high-calorie product. For people who are aiming for weight loss, Nutella nut-chocolate dessert is not suitable because of its high fat content. Such persons should use a vegetarian recipe for Italian pasta.

This will require:

• peeled hazelnuts - 0, 4 kg;
• cocoa - 5 tbsp;
• coconut oil - about 7 tablespoons;
• natural vanilla - one pod;
• honey - 8 tbsp;
• salt is a pinch.

Grinding all the ingredients with a blender, they must be combined. The output should be about 0.5 kg of a natural, healthy product that can be safely included in the diet when losing weight. The components contained in the product will improve metabolism, as well as saturate the body with vital vitamins and mineral supplements. Of course, even such a useful product should not be eaten with spoons.

Note: hazelnuts can be replaced with almonds, vanilla with cinnamon without damage to the taste and quality of the treat, and maple syrup can be used instead of honey.

Harm and contraindications

The main disadvantage of the original Ferrero dessert is the prohibitive level of sugar content. It is this factor that provokes the development of obesity at a young age. Therefore, the portion of goodies for small sweet tooth should be limited. For a single use, 2 tbsp is enough. confectionery miracle, which will be about 200 kcal in terms of energy intensity. However, this amount covers the daily norm of sugar for women.

In addition to sugar, fats and palm oil are dangerous. Given all of the above risk factors, we can make a logical conclusion: it is best to cook the pasta yourself by choosing any of the recipes below. The safety of such a product will be higher, and its total cost is much lower than the original Nutella paste.

An absolute contraindication for the use of such an ambiguous product can be the individual intolerance of nuts and any component of the composition. You should be very careful about the use of such desserts with a tendency to allergic reactions and obesity.

How to store nutella after opening

When choosing a product, one must proceed from the needs for this product. If everyone in the family loves to feast on a chocolate-nut miracle, you can safely buy dessert in a large jar. 180 g containers are enough for the gastronomic needs of one person, although it’s more profitable to buy large cans.But with this choice, the question of the safety of the product always arises. There are several rules, adhering to which you can for a long time enjoy the taste of your favorite treat.

1. Store the sweet product in a glass container with a lapped lid.
2. An ideal place to store is the refrigerator shelf.
3. The home-cooked product should be protected from contact with air so that it does not deteriorate.
4. You can not cook a treat in large portions.
5. In any case, home-made pasta is recommended to be eaten faster, since it has no preservatives.
6. For the preparation of home-made analogues of the famous pasta, you can use any nuts, but the original and delicate taste is obtained with cashews.

Note: Nutella paste in any cooking option cannot be considered an equivalent substitute for nut paste. These are completely different products. Walnut oil has a higher nutritional value than the spread.

How to make Nutella at home

Of course, it’s much easier to buy a bright-colored Nutella jar at the store. But studying the composition of the product, and sometimes its cost, make many buyers think about the hand-made preparation of a sweet supplement. Although many are concerned that this process will take a long time, in fact, delicious, and most importantly, healthy pasta can be prepared very quickly. You just need to follow the instructions and prepare the set of products indicated in the recipe. Having spent a minimum of time, any housewife will be sure that the product prepared by her is nutritious and safe. As an example, here are a few homemade nutella recipes with a minimal list of ingredients.

Children's dessert

This option is very similar to the classic nut-chocolate product recipe. The main ingredients of the composition:

• cocoa (powder) - 2 tbsp;
• peeled walnuts - 1 cup;
• eggs - 2 pcs.;
• butter - about 1 tsp;
• vanillin - a pinch;
• milk - 0.4 l;
• sugar - 600 g;
• flour - 4 tbsp

If there are no walnuts, they can be replaced with peanuts or hazelnuts.

Cooking scheme
When the entire grocery set is on the table, you can begin to prepare a delicious treat for the little family members. But immediately I want to pay attention to an important point: eggs and oil must be removed from the refrigerator in advance. So, the steps of home cooking are as follows:

1. First of all, pour sugar into a stewpan and drive eggs there. Beat the mixture with a mixer, but you can do with a regular whisk.
2. When the sugar crystals completely dissolve, add the flour in small portions. In this case, the mass must be constantly stirred.
3. Next, introduce cocoa powder. And you need to add exactly the specified amount. If you exceed the recommended dosage, the paste will turn out with a bitter taste. Next in line are nuts, and then the rest of the food ingredients.
4. Put the well-mixed mass without lumps directly in the saucepan on minimum heat. It is necessary to stir the mass without ceasing, so that it does not burn. In this mode, cook a dessert for 20 minutes.
5. When the consistency is the desired density, remove the treat from the stove.
6. Ready dessert immediately distributed in jars. Now the family will be provided with a supply of yummy for several days.

Classic recipe

In this recipe, the main ingredient is cocoa. It is he who gives the final product a rich shade and chocolate flavor. And the role of natural thickeners is assigned to flour and sugar. You can use any nuts. List of ingredients:

• premium flour - 4 tbsp .;
• sugar - 4 glasses;
• cocoa - 6 tbsp;
• butter - 250 g;
• nuts and milk (fatty) - 4 cups of each component;
• a pinch of salt.

All products listed must be of excellent quality.

The sequence of culinary steps:

1. In a deep container, first mix flour, cocoa and sugar.
2. Add milk with constant stirring of the mass obtained in the first stage.
3. After that, put the dishes with the contents on an extremely small fire. Stir the mixture constantly until boiling.
4. Now introduce into the composition of the future paste crushed nuts with a blender, salt, add butter.
5. In this state, keep the dessert on fire for at least 20 minutes.
6. When the product reaches the desired density, remove the dishes from the stove.
7. After cooling, put the paste in jars with lids. The output is about 400 g of pure product.

Nutless Dessert Recipe

This recipe is useful for those who are allergic to nuts. The following products will be part of homemade pasta:

• flour - 3 tbsp .;
• vanillin - 1 g;
• sugar - 6 tablespoons;
• cocoa powder - 2 tbsp;
• milk - 0.6 l;
• butter - 60 g.

Sequencing:

1. Pour the sifted flour into a dish with a non-stick bottom, then send sugar and cocoa.
2. Using a blender or whisk, mix these ingredients, and then add milk.
3. Now put the mixture on a very low fire.
4. With constant stirring, cook the delicacy for 15 minutes, until the consistency becomes slightly thick. It must be borne in mind that during solidification, the mass will thicken even more.
5. Add vanillin and butter to the hot dessert.

You can bring a lot of interesting recipes for making homemade Nutella from a set of inexpensive products. As a rule, all the options for preparing world-famous pasta are not difficult and do not require serious time costs. But it turns out a useful and satisfying supplement to the daily diet, which will surely appeal to small and large family members.

What do Nutella eat with?

As you can see from the above recipes, homemade nutella can be a great addition to breakfast. Delicious pasta can be used to prepare not only sandwiches, but also a number of dishes.

1. So the manufacturer of goodies - the company Ferrero - has recently begun to produce pasta complete with crispy sticks. This combination is also excellent for a hearty snack or breakfast.
2. In the assortment of sweet products of this company there are sticks with chocolate and nut filling. Often, Nutella pasta appears on the menu of reputable restaurants.
3. It is added to ice cream and cocktails, used for filling muffins and pancakes.
4. With whipped cream, dessert is used to soak cakes and pastries.
5. Extraordinarily tasty, croissants, rolls, yoghurts, complemented with chocolate and nut treats are obtained.

There are many more options for the culinary use of the famous sweets. Moreover, this collection is constantly updated with new interesting discoveries.

Interesting Facts

1. The Italians are so fond of the confectionery miracle created by their compatriot that they even mention the delicacy in the songs, and also show in the movies.
2. The Americans also decided to keep up with European creators: one of the fans of the goodies suggested celebrating Nutella pasta on February 5th. By the way, many supported this unusual initiative.
3. And this fact will make all nature lovers think. The production of a popular product takes almost a quarter of the total amount of nuts mined in the world.
4. Since its inception, the dessert has been the complex name of "Dzhanduya." But then they decided to rename it to simplify the pronunciation.
5. Although the name of the product is gladly repeated even by children, it is impossible to name a child by the name Nutella, since this brand is protected by the copyright of the manufacturer.
6. And finally, a truly incendiary fact - because of the high fat content, the paste is classified as a rapidly flammable material. It burns perfectly, which means it can cause a fire.

In conclusion, we can only add that, although it is difficult to resist the nut-chocolate temptation, Nutella pasta should be treated as a dessert that can be pampered a couple of times a week.After all, even tasty foods must be consumed in strictly limited quantities so that they do not cause harm to health.

Nutella photo