CHOLESTEROL DIET SECRETS

Butter vs Margarine

Without looking at the packaging of butter and margarine, consumers can hardly tell the difference between both. They sure look the same, though some of us may be able to tell them apart by taste. Even then, the difference in taste can be pretty slight. So we cannot blame consumers for having at best a patchy idea about the difference between butter and margarine.

Most of us consume butter and margarine daily, starting from the toast during breakfast to the other dishes we have for the rest of the day. Therefore, knowing the difference between butter and margarine is important because it could impact our cholesterol level greatly.

Here is the major difference – butter is made from animal fat while margarine is typically made from vegetable oils.

Due to its animal origin, butter is high in saturated fats, found to increase LDL (bad) cholesterol. Over/regular consumption of butter is not advisable, as this would certainly increase one’s risk of developing cholesterol problems. Margarine, on the other hand, contains much lesser saturated fats than butter. For this reason alone, FDA has advised consumers to choose margarine instead of butter.

Now, although margarine appears to be healthier than butter, we should still cut down on unnecessary margarine consumption where possible. For example, instead of having to grease your pan with margarine, choose to use a non-stick pan; for cooking, use olive oil instead of margarine; for your breakfast toast, spread the margarine sparingly or switch to fruit jams.

Finally, where possible, buy those margarines which are made from olive oil instead of palm oil. This is because olive contains higher amount of monounsaturated fats which according to the National Heart Health Association can help to reduce bad cholesterol levels in your blood and lower your risk of heart disease and stroke. Monounsaturated fats also provide nutrients to help develop and maintain your body’s cells.  Monounsaturated fats are also typically high in vitamin E, an antioxidant vitamin most Americans need more of.

To your health,

(Courtesy of Cholesterol Diet Secrets)