Originally published October 20 2005
Dietitian takes up debate over butter vs. margarine
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Chandra Balusu, an NYS certified dietitian, compares the nutrition of butter and margarine, discussing the impact of hydrogenated oils and saturated fats in the average American diet.
My friends always ask me if margarine is better to use than butter.
It's probably the most frequently asked question.
If it's confusing to you, you are not alone.
Here are some facts about butter and margarine to help you determine which is better for your diet and health.
From a fat and calorie standpoint, butter and margarine are the same with 35 calories and four grams of fat per teaspoon.
They both are primarily fat, but the sources are different.
In order to produce solid margarine, unsaturated fats are converted to saturated fats and trans-fatty acids through a hydrogenation process.
Butter contains more saturated fat and cholesterol than margarine, whereas margarine has no cholesterol.
Cholesterol and saturated fat could raise blood cholesterol levels and become risk factors for heart disease, whereas trans-fats have been shown to increase the bad cholesterol (LDL) and tend to lower the good cholesterol (HDL).
Trans-fatty acids are found in cookies, cakes, crackers, french fries, doughnuts and other products that contain hydrogenated shortening products.
By cutting down on saturated fat in your diet, you could reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering your blood cholesterol.
If you have to choose between butter or margarine, you can enjoy it in moderation.
Read the labels before you pick margarine to see if it has hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated fats, because these are high in trans-fatty acids and saturated fats.
Clarification: In the Oct. 5 Eating Smart column on keeping food safe during natural disasters, opened food containers that have come in contact with flood water should be discarded because they cannot be disinfected.
Canned foods that have not been opened should be disinfected and are then safe to use.
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