Since becoming a Registered Associate Nutritionist in 2016, I have increasingly become an advocate for eating foods that are as natural as possible and by that I mean resembling how foods are found in the natural environment. The more processed a foodstuff, the more it has had a chance to be tampered with, thereby increasing the chance for health to be negatively impacting upon – see my article on ultra-processed foods for more information.
So what are the differences between margarine and butter? Let’s look at some of the facts listed below:
So it is controversial – which should you go for? For me personally, I would always prefer the less-tampered with product, butter.
If you are hesitant about consuming butter, I did see a great way to make your own “margarine” at home - just one warning, the second ingredient after coconut oil is vegetable oil and my recommendation would be to use extra virgin olive oil. I am not a fan of the cheap cooking oils labelled “sunflower oil” or “vegetable oil” (also ultra-processed) for good reasons.
References
Monteiro et al. (2019). Ultra-processed foods, diet quality, and health using the NOVA classification system.
McGee, H (2004). On food and cooking – the science and lore of the kitchen.
DiNicolantonio, J and O’Keefe, J (2018). Omega-6 vegetable oils as a driver of coronary heart disease: the oxidized linoleic acid hypothesis.
Daniali et al. (2016). Acrylamide formation in vegetable oils and animal fats during heat treatment.