Is margarine more healthy than butter?

Answer 1

Answer

It depends on what you are looking at. They each have different levels of cholesterol, unsaturated fats and trans fats. One may be higher in one but lower in another.

Best suggestion is use extra virgin olive oil or a spread product made from EVOO such as Olivio (a spread made from olive oil).

To try and give you a mental image: Think of the two in terms of tooth picks versus twigs... And your artery is a cup. You can fit more toothpicks in the cup since they are flat and straight vs twigs which have branches. Margarine and Butter have more branches in their physical structure and that's what clogs up your arteries... however products made from olive oil are straighter so your arteries won't clog up as fast. This is the difference between saturated and unsaturated fats.

Trans fats are similar to this, it also refers to the physical structure. Trans fats have been linked to an increase in many health studies such as cancer, Alzheimer's, Diabetes etc...

Spreads such as Olivio which I use, have 0 trans-fats. Just read the labels before you buy anything.

Answer 2

It depends. Neither is healthy and should be used sparingly.

Margarine contains more "good" fats (polyunsaturated and monounsaturated) than butter. It also contains no cholesterol because it is made from vegetable oil. However, solid margarines (sticks opposed to tubs) can contain trans fats, the worst fat of all.

Butter contains more saturated fat than margarine.

Be sure to check nutritional labels when deciding between butter and margarine. Both should be eaten sparingly for a healthy diet. You can also find healthier butters that have olive or canola oil.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

YES.

While Butter is a fat and should be used sparingly in you diet, Butter is a natural product which evolution has prepared our bodies to deal with.

With Margarine, the product is NOT natural, to make it a vegetable oil (which in itself is natural and good for you in moderation) is treated in a chemical factory to make it solid then chemicals are added to make it taste like butter. This process produces "trans fats" which ar not found in nature and when you eat them your body can not use them. The reason why people eat it is because it was marketed as being more healthy than butter by the big manufacturers. We now know that it is/was not and was actually harming people. The manufacturers now try and solidify the oils mechanically (by making an emulsion) and while this has lowered the trans fat content, the product is still a factory processed food with lots of additives.

Stick to using Butter in moderate amounts, it tastes better, is good for you and it helps the farmers.

Answer 3

butter contains "saturated" fatty acids, which are not very healthy. Margarine, being of plant origin, would contain more "unsaturated" fatty acids, which are healthier. But margarines are often artificial, containing other bad chemicals. But in general, fats made from plants (like plant oils) are usually healthier, because of the unsaturated fatty acids.

Saturation of fatty acids refers to presence of double bonds between some atoms of its carbohydrate chain.

Answer 4

Neither is "healthier" and should be used sparingly.

Margarine contains more "good" fats (polyunsaturated and monounsaturated) than butter. It also contains no cholesterol because it is made from vegetable oil. However, solid margarines (sticks opposed to tubs) can contain trans fats, the worst fat of all.

Butter contains more saturated fat than margarine.

Be sure to check nutritional labels when deciding between butter and margarine. Both should be eaten sparingly for a healthy diet. You can also find healthier butters that have olive or canola oil.

Answer 5

There are differing opinions on this question. The best way to get to the answers is to look at chemistry. There are 3 general types of naturally occurring food fats. First, there is saturated fat, which is found in butter, lard, and coconut oil. Then there is monounsaturated fat which is found in olive oil. Finally, there is polyunsaturated fat found in omega 6 oils like sunflower or safflower oil and in omega 3 oils found in flax seed oil and fish oil. There is a fat found in most margarine products that is manufactured. It is known as hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oil. Hydrogenation and partial hydrogenation is what happens when hydrogen is chemically added into omega 6 polyunsaturated oils in order to make them solidify at room temperature. This method is used primarily as a way to make a cheaper, less perishable substitute for butter. It's used in packaged baked goods and many other packaged foods. The chemical structure of artificially hardened hydrogenated fat is different from the chemical structure of a naturally hard saturated fat or naturally liquid unsaturated oil. Saturated fats have a straight, rigid molecular form. When saturated fat is ingested it tends to make rigid the structure it enters. This tendency explains the association between saturated fat like butter and what is known as hardening of the arteries. Unsaturated fats have a wavy, zigzag structure that contribute to more flexible arteries and other body structures. Hydrogenated fats also have wavy molecular structures, but they bend in the mirror opposite direction of natural unsaturated fats. Because of this unusual shape, hydrogenated fats, or trans-fats, are difficult for the body to grab hold of and metabolize. They can't be incorporated into cell structures or excreted in a normal way. Trans-fat tends to get stuck in blood circulation. It becomes oxidized and contributes significantly to an increased risk for cardiovascular disease and even possibly cancer. From this information we can surmise that monounsaturated fats found in olive oil are the best fats for our bodies. Our bodies need fat in order to function properly, so it's important that we replace unhealthy fats in our diets with a healthy, proper balance of mono- and polyunsaturated fats.

Answer 6

Ignore the ads. neither are healthy. If I have to make a choice I prefer butter in small amounts only because of superior flavour.

Answer 7

Yes. Margarine is hydrogenized. Hydrogenized products are horrible for your arteries. Real butter is much better for your health.

Answer 8

the both have the some what same amount of fat but "i cant believe its not butter" has half the fat as regular butter

Answer 9

Olive oil