Is margarine better for us than butter?

Answer 1

Well that was the thinking 20-30 years ago because of the cholesterol and saturated fat in butter, but it turns out that margarine was made from trans-fats which are much worse not better. Margarine was also cheap.

There are however new "margarine" - non butter butter type spreads that have been reformulated with polyunsaturated fats, low amounts of fat, omega-3's etc.... that are actually quite healthy ... but they are also wickedly expensive too. They go by brand names like Benecol and Smart Balance Omega-3 to name a few. Now that butter itself has become so expensive, these products don't seem so outrageous.

Answer 2

Not necessarily. It depends upon what ingredients are in the margarine. Does the margarine have trans fats? Is it partially hyrdrogenated? Does it have artificial colors? Was it made from cottonseed oil (often lots of pesticide residue)?

Unless it is whipped or watered down, most margarine is still fat and still usually the same amount of calories. I'd rather have a small amount of butter. I think butter tastes way better, and whether or not it really makes a difference, I like that it is a more natural, less processed product.

Answer 3

Depends on what your needs are. If you're healthy, no cholesterol or triglyceride issues, and you don't eat butter by the stick, butter is best. We use organic butter. How can you beat the taste of butter? No margarine really compares tastewise.

If you need to reduce your consumption of animal fats, then of course certain margarines are better for you in that regard.

But if you don't need to watch those things then by choosing butter you'll stay away from the additives and chemicals that make margarine spreadable and such.

Butter in moderation seems to be the best choice to me.

Answer 4

Butter is better, because the flavor is more intense; therefore you eat less. A teaspoon of butter in a bowl of popcorn taste better than a tablespoon of margarine!! For the food Nazis a t of butter is healthier than a T of margarine.

Answer 5

Butter is healthier. It is metabolized by the body better because it is natural. Fats are not bad for you. Fat is a necessary item in your diet. TOO MUCH fat is not good because of the calories, but we all need some fat in our diet. Staying away from trans fats, such as margarine, is a good thing. Oils are healthier than butter, but between margarine and butter, butter is better for you.

Answer 6

Margarine was once thought to be less toxic because as a vegetable product, it has no cholesterol. It since has been found that, as a trans-fat, one that has been treated to maintain solid form, it not only looks like butter but has the same impact as cholesterol laden food. Add to that the various artificial ingredients that are usually added to increase its resemblance to butter, and you have one unhealthy product.

Answer 7

Butter is natural fat and margarine is a hydrogenated oil which means it is whipped up in some way(I don't understand!) and is said to clog your arteries more. Butter is far more refreshing and quite frankly cooks up a little nicer.

Answer 8

There is no simple answer. Butter contains more saturated fatty acids than margarine, but less trans fatty acids than some margarines.

Answer 9

margarine is trans fats. It's literally crisco with dye and salt.
Many many moons ago, margarine used to come in a bag. It was a big clear bag of crisco with a red dot of dye in the middle. You had to mash the dot and knead the bag until the whole thing was yellow.

Butter is better for you.

Answer 10

No, margarine is way worse than butter in the artery-clogging department.