Welcome to my blog, where you'll find short tips, quick stories, resource links and other useful stuff about weight loss for professionals. Its also where I rant and rave from time to time. I hope you find it useful!7 July 2005 - Margarine or butter?
Another interview for A Current Affair today about the butter versus margarine debate. Go to the story where you can even watch a video.
So which is best for your waist line? The spread with the lowest calorie content and some spreads now have as low as around 30% fat content as a result of advances in production methods. One reason that you see more table 'spreads' than margarines these days is that in Australia, a spread has to contain at least 80% fat to be called a margarine.
To keep to your total daily fat budget you should check the nutrition information panel on your spreads for fat content to choose one with a lower amount.
And should you choose butter or a spread to keep your heart healthy? The simplest bottom line for heart health is when choosing a spread for daily use, go for the one with the lowest saturated fat content. It's been known pretty clearling for years that a diet high in saturated fat, can contribute to high blood cholesterol and increase your risk of cardiovascular disease.
Butter has around 55% saturated fat and spreads go as low as 6%, so its a simple choice here. If you rarely use butter or margarine, your choice won't matter so much. I like the taste of butter better and enjoy it only really when I travel.
For more information about hydrogenated fats, trans fats and other questions you may have, check out the Choice Magazine report on table spreads.
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