Margarine vs Butter: Which One is Healthier?
There are many discussions regarding which one is healthier, butter or margarine. Both products appear to have advantages and disadvantages for health. So, let’s start with how they are produced.
A tablespoon of butter has 2.1 micrograms of vitamin K2. The body requires vitamin K for blood clotting, which helps wounds to heal.
Augason Farms Butter Powder 2 lbs 4 oz Review
a. Salted Butter 8 oz
Perfect for cooking and baking, these products can take the place of butter in any recipe. Margarine has no cholesterol and also contains less fat and fewer calories than butter.
Butter and Margarine?
Butter is made from churned milk or cream and is rich in saturated fats. To make one kilogram of butter, twenty liters of whole milk are needed.
While margarine is a processed food created to mimic and taste like butter. Vegetable oils, which are used to make modern margarine types, contain polyunsaturated fats which can lower LDL cholesterol, the "bad" cholesterol when used instead of saturated fat.
However, margarine contains trans fats that can raise your risk of developing health issues. Trans fats are created when liquid oils are transformed into solid fats.
Not all margarine is created equal. Margarine often has more trans fat the more solid it is. Stick margarine typically has more trans fat than tub margarine.
Simply said, butter is basically concentrated dairy fat, whereas modern margarine is a highly processed food product manufactured from vegetable oils.
While margarine is a processed food created to mimic and taste like butter. Vegetable oils, which are used to make modern margarine types, contain polyunsaturated fats which can lower LDL cholesterol, the "bad" cholesterol when used instead of saturated fat.
However, margarine contains trans fats that can raise your risk of developing health issues. Trans fats are created when liquid oils are transformed into solid fats.
Not all margarine is created equal. Margarine often has more trans fat the more solid it is. Stick margarine typically has more trans fat than tub margarine.
Simply said, butter is basically concentrated dairy fat, whereas modern margarine is a highly processed food product manufactured from vegetable oils.
Butter vs Stick Margarine vs Tub Margarine
Potential Health Benefits of Butter
Butter is a source of:
- Vitamin A
Beta carotene, a beneficial compound that your body transforms into vitamin A as needed to meet your daily needs, is abundant in butter. Moreover, beta carotene has antioxidant properties which have been associated with a lower risk of developing several chronic diseases.
According to a study, the quantity of beta carotene in butter produced from the milk of 100%-grass-fed cows had the highest level, while the amount in butter produced from cows that were fed a combination of grass and maize had the lowest.
- Vitamin D and Calcium
Butter contains vitamin D and calcium, nutrients that are important for bone health. Moreover, they may also help prevent diseases such as osteoporosis, a health condition that develops when a person loses a significant amount of bone density.
- Vitamin K
Additionally, vitamin K also plays an important role in maintaining bone health. A lack of vitamin K has been linked to several diseases, including osteoporosis and vascular calcification.
- Vitamin E
Vitamin E, which contributes to skin health, is also present in butter. The nutrient lessens skin inflammation, lessens UV sun damage, and enhances the speed of wound healing.
Potential Risks of Butter
Butter contains large amounts of saturated fat. Saturated fat can raises LDL cholesterol levels which can increase your risk for heart disease and stroke.
If you have heart disease or are trying to reduce your calorie intake, use butter with caution. The latest advice from the American Heart Association (AHA) is to consume less saturated fat.
Potential Health Benefits of Margarine
The health benefits of margarine are determined by the type of vegetable oil used and how it is processed.
Most types of margarine are high in polyunsaturated fat. The precise amount is determined by the vegetable oils used in its production.
Polyunsaturated fat is generally thought to be beneficial. When compared to saturated fat, it may even be beneficial to heart health.
A study suggests that replacing saturated fatty acids (SFAs) with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) prevents coronary heart disease over a wide range of intakes.
Moreover, in order to restore some of the nutritional value that is lost during food production or storage, margarine is often added with vitamins A, D, and E during production so it has vitamin contents similar to butter.
Potential Risks of Margarine
Many kinds of margarine contain trans fat, which is considered the worst type of fat to consume. It can raise LDL (bad) cholesterol, lowers HDL (good) cholesterol, and increases heart disease risk.
Margarine has more trans fat the more solid it is. Therefore, tub margarine is actually better than stick margarine because it has less trans fat.
Last, always be cautious that even margarine that’s advertised with zero trans fat may contain up to 0.5 grams.
Our Take
Butter and margarine look similar and serve the same function in the kitchen. They have both advantages and disadvantages.
If you prefer margarine, look for trans-fat-free brands and products made with healthy oils like olive oil.
If you enjoy butter, consider purchasing products made from grass-fed cow's milk.
Butter You Can Buy Today!
1. Augason Farms Butter Powder 2 lbs 4 oz
Price: $17.07 ($0.47 / ounce): BUY ON AMAZON
- 204 servings
- 7,140 calories
- perfect for food storage, emergencies, survival, camping, and everyday use!
- certified gluten-free
- up to a 10 year shelf life!
Source: Butter Powder ~ Good or Gross???
2. Kerrygold Pure Irish Butter
Kerrygold butter & cheese are made with milk from grass-fed cows not treated with rBST or other growth hormones* & raised on Irish family dairy farms. This all-natural milk is what makes our products so flavorful & creamy.
Price: $4.49 ($0.56 / Ounce): BUY ON AMAZON
b. Unsalted Butter 8oz
Price: $3.69 ($0.46 / Ounce): BUY ON AMAZON
3. 365 by Whole Foods Market
Made with Milk from Pasture-Raised Cows Not Treated with rBST*
- USDA Organic
- vegetarian
a. Butter Salted Organic 16 Ounce
Price: $6.19 ($0.39 / Ounce): BUY ON AMAZON
a. Butter Unsalted Organic 16 Ounce
Price: $6.19 ($0.39 / Ounce): BUY ON AMAZON
Margarine You Can Buy Today!
1. Fleischmann Solid Margarine Stick
a. OriginalPerfect for cooking and baking, these products can take the place of butter in any recipe. Margarine has no cholesterol and also contains less fat and fewer calories than butter.
Ingredients: Vegetable Oil Blend (Soybean Oil, Palm Oil, and Palm Kernel Oil), Water, Salt, Contains less than 2% of: Whey, Vegetable Mono- and Diglycerides and Soy Lecithin (Emulsifiers), Sodium Benzoate (To Preserve Freshness), Phosphoric Acid (Acidulant), Vitamin A Palmitate, Colored With Beta Carotene (Source of Vitamin A), Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol), Natural and Artificial Flavor.
Contains: Milk, Soy.
b. Unsalted
FAQ
1. What is the Meaning of Pasteurised Butter?
Pasteurized butters means that they have been heated to kill the supposedly "dangerous" bacteria. Unfortunately, pasteurization kills all bacteria without discrimination. The beneficial bacteria are also killed.
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