Peanut Butter - Natural vs. organic vs. Skippy

Organic meets some standard of the peanuts being organically grown. These peanuts may be processed into natural or standard PB.

Standard PB has hydrogenated oils mixed in to keep the natural peanut oil form separating from the pulp.

Natural PB leaves these oils out, so they need to be stirred to mix the oil back in.

All varieties vary on the addition of salt or sugar.  

Regardless of how they label it, I look for a peanut butter that has only "peanuts" on the ingredient list.  Usually these are labeled "natural," but not always.

Not all oils are bad for you.  Monounsaturated fats, like peanut oil, are considered "good fats," because they increase HDL ('good' cholesterol) and decrease LDL ('bad' cholesterol).

Saturated fats (including palm oil, which is often added to commercial peanut butters like Skippy), raise LDL.

The natural PB tastes better.  Once I tried it, I could never stand the "regular" PB again.  I just open a jar, dump it out into a bowl, mix it up, put it back in the jar, and toss it n the fridge.    Smuckers.  Peanuts, salt.  that's it.  Reminds me of the Breyer's ice cream commercials where the kids try to read the ingredients on the "other" ice creams.