Margarine vs. Butter: Which is Healthier?

There has been some confusion as to which is healthier, margarine or butter. Margarine is usually the healthier choice but not always. Let’s look at how they differ.

Most margarines contain little or no cholesterol. On the other hand, butter contains a significant amount of cholesterol. When making the choice between margarine or butter one needs to consider their specific dietary needs. What works for one may not necessarily work for the other.

Margarine is made from vegetable oils, so it contains unsaturated fats (polyunsaturated and monounsaturated) which are the good fats. These fats help reduce LDL or low-density lipoprotein, otherwise known as the “bad” cholesterol when substituted for saturated fat.

However, not all margarine is the same. The more solid the margarine the more trans-fat it contains, for example, stick margarine. Trans fat and saturated fat increases blood cholesterol levels and the risk of heart disease. It also lowers the “good” cholesterol or HDL.

Megan Ware-RDN LD of Medical News Today lists the three

There has been some confusion as to which is healthier, margarine or butter. Margarine is usually the healthier choice but not always. Let’s look at how they differ.

Most margarines contain little or no cholesterol. On the other hand, butter contains a significant amount of cholesterol. When making the choice between margarine or butter one needs to consider their specific dietary needs. What works for one may not necessarily work for the other.

Margarine is made from vegetable oils, so it contains unsaturated fats (polyunsaturated and monounsaturated) which are the good fats. These fats help reduce LDL or low-density lipoprotein, otherwise known as the “bad” cholesterol when substituted for saturated fat.

However, not all margarine is the same. The more solid the margarine the more trans-fat it contains, for example, stick margarine. Trans fat and saturated fat increases blood cholesterol levels and the risk of heart disease. It also lowers the “good” cholesterol or HDL.

Megan Ware-RDN LD of Medical News Today lists the three