Many people believe that margarine is better than butter . . . and just as many believe the opposite. Who is correct? Which of these two options is the better one? Today we will look at both sides and determine once and for all whether margarine or butter is best.
Contrary to popular belief, fat is good for your body, but there are some concerns over the type of fat. Scientists have studied this for years and now know that certain types of fat can increase cholesterol levels and increase the chances of heart disease.
Pros and Cons of Butter
Butter is made from cream, which is the fat that is skimmed off the top of milk once it’s allowed to sit for some time. This gives it a creamy taste that many people love. The butter itself is totally natural, made from just the cream and perhaps a little salt for flavour. This makes it a good choice for many.
However, there are some cons, as well. Butter is high calorie, with a tablespoon containing 100 calories. It’s also packed with 7 grams of saturated fat, which is not good for your cholesterol levels or heart.
Pros and Cons of Margarine
Margarine is made of vegetable oils, which makes it more appealing to vegans or anyone who is allergic to milk products. It’s lower in saturated fat and doesn’t have any cholesterol in it, but that doesn’t mean it’s the best for you.
In fact, the vegetable oils that make up margarine have hydrogen added to create a solid. This causes trans fat to be created and it’s far worse for your heart than saturated fat. Harder margarine sticks contain even more trans fats than spreads.
Which Should You Choose?
When it comes down to it, butter is a natural choice, whereas margarine is quite processed and worse for you, particularly when it comes to hard sticks. You should certainly focus on eating healthily and reducing the amount of fat in your life, but if you do need something buttery, it’s best to reach for the real thing than a poor imitation.
Butter has more nutrients than margarine, thanks to its origins and can be used as a spread or in your baking. For cooking, you may use a dab of butter in place of oil to create a unique flavour. There’s really no recipe with butter that will taste better with margarine.
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