Butter v/s Margarine

[ 6 ] 02/10/2009 | crookedeyebrow

During this challenge we have been focusing on some heart healthy topics. Not only do we all wish to lose weight and shrink our jeans, but we also want to be healthy-heart healthy savvy too.

When making better choices in our diets, deciding which is better, butter of margarine can be confusing. Do you all remember our post about fat? We chatted it up about how we need to stay away from the bad fats such as saturated and trans-fats. Remember? Yes you do…

So knowing all about fats, which is really better? Butter or margarine? Both butter and margarine are both about the same amounts of calories and about 4grams of fat per teaspoon. Let’s take a closer look on what kind of fats are in them, shall we?

Butter

Butter is an animal product loaded with saturated fat and cholesterol. Both of which increase our risk of heart disease and strokes.

Margarine

Margarine is made from vegetable oil, which is low in saturated fat and has no dietary cholesterol. But because the liquid vegetable oil in stick margarine is hardened through a process called hydrogenation, it is high in trans-fatty acids. If you recall, trans-fats raise levels of bad cholesterol, but also to lower levels of good cholesterol.

Light Spreads

Thankfully there are a number of light spreads and margarine products on the market that are trans-fat-free. Some of these spreads also contain plant sterols and stanols, which block the absorption of cholesterol, making these spreads much healthier alternatives to regular margarine and butter. Because these light margarines and spreads have not been hydrogenated, they are soft and usually sold in tubs rather than sticks.

The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends margarine over butter, advising us to choose soft tubs varieties over hard sticks. Try and choose a brand with no more than 2 grams of fat per tablespoon and with liquid vegetable oil as the primary ingredient.

In general, the AHA recommends using natural, non-hydrogenated oils such as canola or olive oil, and to look for processed foods without saturated fat or trans fats. Just remember, the important thing is to use these products in small amounts.

http://www.simplychristel.blogspot.com Christel

I never knew what the difference was between the two. I did that one was better than the other just wasn’t sure which one. We’ve always bought margarine in the tub now I know why. Thanks for the helpful information.
http://www.simplychristel.blogspot.com Christel

I never knew what the difference was between the two. I did that one was better than the other just wasn’t sure which one. We’ve always bought margarine in the tub now I know why. Thanks for the helpful information.
Christine

Thank-you for explaining the differences! Love your blog!
Christine

Thank-you for explaining the differences! Love your blog!
http://www.iheartmargarine.com Emma

Thanks for the great column and for setting the facts straight!
An overall healthy diet includes consuming a wide range of foods in moderation. A heart healthy diet includes fruits and vegetables, grains, dairy products, meat and beans, and vegetable oils. A heart healthy diet also minimizes intake of foods like animal fats, such as butter.

Simply switching to margarine can greatly impact family health, as margarine products contain no cholesterol, little to no trans fats, and taste great!
http://www.iheartmargarine.com Emma

Thanks for the great column and for setting the facts straight!
An overall healthy diet includes consuming a wide range of foods in moderation. A heart healthy diet includes fruits and vegetables, grains, dairy products, meat and beans, and vegetable oils. A heart healthy diet also minimizes intake of foods like animal fats, such as butter.

Simply switching to margarine can greatly impact family health, as margarine products contain no cholesterol, little to no trans fats, and taste great!