Butter products are almost never marketed as healthy in the dairy aisles of the supermarkets. We are often told that margarine is much healthier. I asked myself if this was the real truth.
Apparently, it is the other way around. Sometimes, it is difficult to tell the difference between some margarine and butter types, as they are similar.
How is margarine produced?
Margarine is a product of a scientific process that results in trans fats, which are detrimental to our health. It has been created as a cheaper alternative to butter and began to be mass-produced in 1903.
Then, it was discovered that the addition of hydrogen to vegetable oil creates a more solid, spreadable product.
The early manufacturers were not aware of the harmful effects of trans fats, but recently, experts have found that trans fats act differently in the body to saturated and unsaturated fats, which are needed for the body in order to function properly.
Trans fats function in another way, and their molecular structure is different. According to one study, (Dalainas & Ioannou, 2008) the increase of the energy taken from trans fats by 2% raises the risk of coronary artery disease by 23%.
Is butter really bad?
In the 1950s, butter was given a bad reputation. The reason was that people believed it was the culprit for high cholesterol levels (found in butter and animal fats) which was related to heart disease. Afterward, the findings of these studies were found to be wrong, and people were told wrong facts that a high-fat diet is related to heart diseases.
Nowadays, it is known that the kind of fat found in simple carbohydrates such as bread and sugar is actually the main culprit for the development of cardiovascular diseases. On the other hand, it has also been shown that slightly higher cholesterol levels lead to a longer life.
Therefore, you should think twice next time, before you decide whether to buy butter or margarine and prevent adverse effects on your health.
I certainly know what I would go for now. A nice butter on a piece of bread. Yummy…..
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Via House of healthy food.