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We’re Nuts for NuttZo!

Credit: NuttZo

Credit: NuttZo


“PEANUT BUTTER!”
Two words have never evoked such happiness. Runners love this diet staple, chock-full of protein, fats and fiber. We’ll spread it on a pre-run toast, dip a banana into it, use it in cooking and sometimes eat it straight from the jar with a spoon. Runner’s World even declared peanut butter “the best runner’s food on the planet.”
We go together like peanut butter and…well, runners. It’s a better match than jelly.
Naturally, when I was assigned to test and review NuttZo for Fit Bottomed Eats, I was giddy. Giddiness turned to elation when I took my first spoonful—yeah, my first bite was straight outta the jar, what of it? In the interest of thorough testing, I’ve also made everyone who crosses the threshold of my house sample it and give me his or her thoughts.
The consensus? This stuff is good.
NuttZo is a combination of organic peanuts, cashews, almonds, brazil nuts, sunflower seeds, flaxseeds, hazelnuts and sea salt. Seriously. That’s the whole ingredient list right there. Unlike its competitors, NuttZo doesn’t add any oils (including palm oil, a controversial ingredient for vegetarians and vegans), sugars or preservatives to the nutty goodness.
This combination of ingredients provides a complete protein and is naturally high in omega-3 fatty acids, an essential macronutrient that reduces inflammation. Doctors agree most humans don’t get enough omega-3 fatty acids, especially in proper ratio to omega-6 fatty acids.
Much of the omega-3s in NuttZo comes from whole flaxseed. Whole flaxseed may pass through your intestine undigested, which means you won’t get all the health benefits. Ideally, flaxseed should be ground for proper absorption, but doing so would cause a product like NuttZo to go rancid because ground flax spoils quickly. However, whole seeds of any type are beneficial to the digestive tract, so any NuttZo flaxseed not ground up during chewing still provides fiber and a natural “scrub” to your system.
But enough about intestine scrubbing; let’s discuss taste! (How’s that for a segue, folks?)
NuttZo is unique in texture—it’s not creamy, but it isn’t your standard chunky peanut butter, with its perfectly uniform bits of chopped peanuts. You can actually recognize the nuts in your food (“Oooh! cashews!”), and the nut butter actually tastes like nut butter—not an artificially flavored caricature of food, which I’ve said about many peanut butters.
Though it’s a natural butter, the oils don’t separate like other brands. Both jars I tested required one stir upon opening, and then their consistency remained the same until the last spoonful.
Compared to other peanut butter brands, NuttZo is kind of expensive: Prices range from $7.50 for a jar of their original to $19.99 for their peanut-free variety. I’d be willing to pay that much for the product; as a vegetarian, I look at this as a protein source the same way an omnivore looks at a cut of meat or fish. It’s an investment in quality food—a filet mignon of peanut butter, if you will.
What healthier foods do you “invest” in, and why? —Susan

FTC disclosure: We often receive products from companies to review. All thoughts and opinions are always entirely our own. Unless otherwise stated, we have received no compensation for our review and the content is purely editorial. Affiliate links may be included. If you purchase something through one of those links we may receive a small commission. Thanks for your support!

Comments

2 Comments
  1. Yolan says:

    This sounds like a good alternative to the one i tried the other day. I could taste the sugar and salt in it more than the peanut taste. Thank for reviewing this.

  2. John Hart says:

    Peanut butter is one of my favorites, I usually do peanut butter and banana sandwiches. Both provide good fibers and the banana is good for digestion.
    I prefer my peanut butter chunky and no added oil in this one really makes me wanna try. Luckily I am not allergic to peanuts, the “peanut free” peanut butter sounds weird.
    Thanks for putting me on to this 🙂

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