Margarine or Butter? Seriously?
I couldn't help myself. I read through October's Issue of “Good Health” magazine today. Our ideas on what constitutes good health couldn't be much further apart.
I thought conventional wisdom was starting to come round to realising that natural, animal fat maybe isn't so bad after all. Clearly not.
So, let's compare the ingredients: –
Butter
- Cream
Margarine (this example is Flora)
- Water
- vegetable oils (including sunflower oil) (so other vegetable oils are also in the mix, with a high omega 6 ratio)
- plant sterol esters (12.5%) (this is an additive that reduces cholesterol, but interferes with absorption of fat soluble vitamins & hormones)
- modified tapioca starch, salt (1.0%) (this is a chemically altered thickener)
- buttermilk
- Emulsifiers: Mono- and di-glycerides of fatty acids, sunflower lecithin
- Preservative: Potassium sorbate, citric acid, vitamin E, flavouring (often synthetic chemicals), vitamin B6, folic acid
- Colour: Beta carotene, Vitamins A, D and B12
So, this article specifically mentions trans fats. Well, as Julianne Taylor clearly explains, “trans fat free” margarine doesn't sound too great either. And as for the trans fat in butter – natural trans fats are created in the stomachs of ruminants (like cows) – and have a completely different fatty acid profile to trans fats found in artificial foods. A lot of evidence suggests that these natural trans fats may actually be beneficial.
Margarine, seriously?
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I’m convinced that most “health” magazines only make their readers patently less healthy. There’s so much more to the reality of butter and margarine than is presented in this article. I wince every time I hear that a cardiologist has recommended margarine to another patient. Great post, but sure wish it was one you didn’t have to write or we didn’t have to discuss.
Shirley
It’s heartbreaking isn’t it, especially considering a lot of people will buy these magazines and follow the advice.
I guess there’s just no money for cardiologists in promoting “real” foods!
I saw this too and couldn’t believe it!
On a side note, lots of American blogs refer to spaghetti squash as an alternative to spaghetti. Have you ever seen spaghetti squash in Australia?
Thanks
Monique
No I’ve never seen it, I’ve tried using the butternut squash we have here – definitely not the same! Surely it must be available somewhere in Australia?!
Yes, I have seen spaghetti squash. Cucurbita pepo seeds are available from Eden Seeds. http://www.edenseeds.com.au/content/seeditem.asp?id=340§ion=1
Jill
Great solution – grow your own! I wonder how well the seeds will do in Australia?
I’m going to have to try this as I have so many recipes that call for spaghetti squash.
This plant is like a pumpkin vine. Plant seeds in spring. It takes quite a lot of space.
How canola oil is made. Hillarious. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omjWmLG0EAs&feature=youtu.be
It’s horrible stuff isn’t it!
Really interesting, that’s funny, I’ve always had butter never any spreads simply because I just love the taste. So many people make money on these ‘low fat diet’ type foods.
Most of the ‘untouched’ (nothing added) foods don’t have middle men involved.
I love cooking with coconut oil my roasts have a lovely taste.
The natural foods taste so much better don’t they. Hopefully, eventually, people will realise and start to eat real food again!
The natural foods taste so much better don’t they. Hopefully, eventually, people will realise and start to eat real food again!
I have to wonder about the folk who claim they can’t taste the difference between butter and margerine “anyway”. What are they deficient in!
Love reading your posts. We (husband and me) are devout paleos for 2 yrs. Follow Mark Sisson. Butter rules! Well, with coconut oil… and bacon fat… thanks for information on coconut aminos… and all the. great recipes. Great information. We live in Arizona, but I’m from Hawaii. So, much aloha… Tina.