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Who Wants to Have a Spread Fight? Butter vs. Margarine!

Jul 30, 2014 by Thumper Massager

There have been many comparisons and reviews about butter and margarine. Which one do you think is better for you? This question is raised numerous times when consumers are deciding which one to buy. Consumers who prioritize their health are more inclined to look at the nutritional value of food before purchasing.

That being said, we have put together a list of comparative facts on the pros and cons of butter and margarine to encourage consumers to make healthy lifestyle choices. We have put together a comparison review of the pros and cons of these two spreads. We will outline the points and give you a result, but the ultimate decision will be yours (Henry, 2013)!

Now let’s put on our boxing gloves and begin this ‘spread’ fight with the pros and cons of butter. See the chart below!

Butter

Pros	Cons
Butter is easy to cook and bake with Has essential vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A and keratin, which strengthens sight Contains Vitamin E, which promotes skin elasticity Butter is all natural made from cow’s milk It is solid at room temperature, tasty and versatile (Henry, 2013)	Fattening It is 35 calories per tsp (100 calories per tblsp) (Henry, 2013)

Now it’s time for margarine to show us who’s the boss!

Pros	Cons
Lower saturated fat than butter 0.5 grams of saturated fat per 2 tsp Margarine has a lower calorie count because some brands are whipped in water or air Low in sodium, have added omega-3 fatty acids, protects our arteries Has added plant sterols, which lowers our LDL (Henry, 2013)	Fattening It is 35 calories per teaspoon (100 calories per tablespoon) Not all margarines are created equally Some brands have traces of trans fat Hard margarines, aka stick margarines are known to have trans fats or high saturated fat Contains Omega-6 fatty acids- found in many processed foods and vegetable oils (Henry, 2013)

 

Conclusion: Who Will Win?

If you are eating a lot of saturated fats, for example, eating a muffin or a glazed donut with a coffee two creams, then margarine should be your choice. If you have a balanced diet, you might want to choose butter (Ozsunger, 2013).

You can choose either butter or margarine, but you have to watch your portion size!

 

 

 

 

 

References:

Henry, M., & Ozsungur. (2013, January 15). Butter vs. margarine: Food fight. . Retrieved April 8, 2014, from http://www.thestar.com/life/health_wellness/nutrition/2013/01/15/butter_vs_margarine_food_fight.html