margarine and it's rumor?

Question

So....I heard about this rumor that margarine is one atom away from being some type of....er..plastic...Is it true?
Is butter "healthier" than margarine?

Answer 1

Butter is healthier than margarine because the fats occurring in the butter are naturally occurring... which means while it is high in saturated fat, it contains other types of fat. Butter is also not "pure" fat. It contains a high percentage of milk-fat to be sure, but it does contain other things (some of the sugars and proteins found in milk). Believe it or not, butter's usually less than half fat. The rest of it is protein and sugar solids, water, and usually a bit of salt.

Margarine, on the other hand, is made by taking vegetable oil and hydrogenating it. And yeah, that's exactly what it sounds like. They basically pass a bunch of hydrogen through the oil, and as they do, it causes the oil to "load up" on hydrogen molecules, which turns the oil from a liquid to a solid at room temperature.

This process pretty much negates any health value the oil may have had over butter and renders it worse for your health because it turns the oils into nothing but saturated trans-fats (which are the single unhealthiest fat you can consume).

So, the end result is that yes, most margarine is much worse for you than butter is, if for no other reason than margarine is nothing but artificially saturated fats, but butter is not only natural fats, but other non-fatty substances as well.

While some soft margarines are supposed to have a better fat profile than butter, they almost never have the flavor people are looking for in cooking. Let me recommend what most chefs do when they're looking for all the flavor and a lower saturated fat content... though admittedly, they do it first for the flavor, which is great.

If you're cooking a savory dish (sauteing vegetables, searing meat, etc) use half butter, and half olive oil instead of straight butter-- or mostly olive oil with a little butter just to get that hint of buttery flavor in your dishes.


The addition of olive oil not only raises the smoke point so you can use it in more dishes, it gives you a better fat profile than butter (or margarine, for that matter), can.

Answer 2

Q: Is it better to eat butter instead of margarine to avoid trans fat? A: No, because the combined amount of saturated fat and trans fat (the cholesterol-raising fats) and cholesterol for butter is usually higher than margarine, even though some margarines contain more trans fat than butter. It is better to eat softer or liquid margarines that contain a lower combined amount of saturated fat and trans fat and a lower amount of cholesterol. For a healthful alternative, nonstick cooking spray can be substituted for other fats when "greasing" the pan. However, "Cooking Light" magazine has stated that a healthy diet can include butter as long as it is used in moderation. Personally, I use butter for baking, but I only bake maybe once a month at the very most; I consider that moderation. The word "nutritious" is sort of a loaded word anyhow. To be honest, the only foods that are outright nutritious are no-fat dairy products, lean meats, fruits, veggies, legumes like lentils, and whole grains. You can eat things that aren't necessarily nutritious; just have to do it in moderation.

Answer 3

Do not eat margarine! It is chemical and toxic to the human body. Try this: Put a stick or tub of margarine outside and you will see that no bugs will go near it because it's not natural and not anything that natural critters will even consider eating. For more information about margarine, check out the natural health site below, which I live by! It will change your life if you get Dr. Mercola's weekly newsletters and read them.

Answer 4

It's not a rumor. Margarine is only one molecule away from plastic. Yes, butter is better but don't eat to excess.

Answer 5

Yes & Yes!
You could leave a tub of margarine & a tub of butter as a test, available for birds, rats, insects, etc & the butter will be consumed & the margarine won't be bothered. Go figger!

Answer 6

I wouldn't say all margarine's are bad for you. There is an olive oil margarine which in my opinion has to be healthier than the regular one. Olive oil stops cholesterol filtering into your blood stream.

Answer 7

Margarine and Butter same amount of calories.........so for taste we eat ONLY butter. Both unhealthy if eaten to excess.

Answer 8

in France, we don't really. it more little if there is no margarine, there is butter

Answer 9

i thought it was less fattening dan butter. oh well