There is an ongoing discussion about what is healthier – butter or margarine. Different research provides different information as one study claims butter is healthier, and the next – that margarine should be preferred. What’s the truth? Here are some facts about butter and margarine.
Butter is made from cream and is rich in saturated fat. In addition, butter has high cholesterol levels. It is known that excess consumption of saturated fats results in increased levels of “bad” cholesterol. Margarine, on the other hand, is made from vegetable oils and has almost no cholesterol. However, margarine is rich in unsaturated far, known as trans fat.
It is believed that unsaturated fats are healthier than saturated fats. But it is also known that trans fats that are found in margarine increase the levels of “bad” cholesterol, just like saturated fats do. A big disadvantage of trans fats is that they reduce the levels of “good” cholesterol.
However, despite the high levels of unsaturated fats and cholesterol, butter has numerous health benefits and nutritional advantages over margarine. Thus, butter is among the best natural sources of vitamins A, D and E. In addition, butter contains a trans fat called Conjugated Lineolic Acid which helps for reduction of obesity and enhancement of bone density. Butter is also rich in iodine and selenium.Iodine is needed for a proper function of the thyroid gland and selenium is an anti-oxidant. Butter has glycospingolipids – a type of fatty acid that improves the function of the digestive system.