what about low fat margarine with zero trans fat?

Question

is margarine w zero trans fat also bad on health

Answer 1

Any kind of margarine is chemical crap. Butter is real food.

Answer 2

It is all very complicated and confusing. Bottom line is there is no "free lunch". All spreads, margarine and butter have SOME nutritional disadvantages (while also having some advantages). For a good overview see Link 1. But then this is true of almost everything in life ... just look at the number of recent examples of people made ill by contamination of "healthy food" like spinach, .

Remember fat is essential to the human diet. But many people simply eat too much, so efforts to reduce fat intake and to switch to "better" fat choices are to be encouraged.

Also remember fats are not all the same, and reducing some types of fats is more important than others (See link 2).

For example, it is generally accepted that saturated fats are bad while mono-saturated and ply-unsaturated fats (although not hydrogenated polyunsaturated fats) are good. Oils of different type have different proportions of saturated, mono-unsaturated and poly-unsaturated fats. Olive oil, for example, has a high proportion of mono-unsaturated fat.

The most important factor re health is reducing trans fatty acids (even more important than reduced saturated fats). Trans fatty acids (associated with hydrogenation of polyunsaturated fat) was the achilles heal of traditional margarine and why many people went back to butter.

Low fat margarine (if less than 80% oil it is called a spread) is usually made with a mix of fat and water, generally meaning it is not suitable for cooking or spreading on toast. What oil was used to make it is important. There is also some evidence that low-fat margarine (and low fat butter) may be associated with elevated incidence of asthma in young adults (Link 3).

Another consideration is the desirability of reducing dietary cholesterol intake -- one of the main reasons to avoid butter.

Furthermore -- and to complicate matters further -- some types of margarine are now being made with ingredients to cut cholesterol (plant sterols or plant stanol ester) -- although there is some doubt they are effective unless relatively large amounts of the margarine are eaten.

Increasingly, foods are being formulated to not only provide nutrition but therapeutic effects -- what have traditionally been drug claims. But that is getting off topic.

So now we can turn to your question ... is low fat zero trans margarine bad for your health? Zero trans is good, but low fat may not be if the asthma link is proven, and this suspicion alone is probably sufficient to suggest caution. It is also not really necessary on a health basis (and problematic given heat limitations) to use any low fat spread, margarine or butter).

It is sufficient to use "normal" margarine with the right kind of oil is chosen, and the margarine (or butter) eaten in moderation as part of a health (i.e. low animal fat) diet. I again refer you to link 1 for an overview of what to consider re. choosing a spread.

Hope this helps rather than confuses.

Answer 3

I think that margarine is bad for your health, it is not true that contains less fat and is better than butter. I rather have a moderate amount of butter on my toast than margarine. do not believe all those ads go for natural butter, instead.

Answer 4

Try "Brummel's and Brown" spread or the "Land o Lake" butter mixed with canola oil. No trans fats...and yummy.

Answer 5

GROSS!! Real butter is better for you....did you know Roaches wont even eat margarine? A FREAKING COCKROACH KNOWS BETTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!