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Many common margarine brands are marketed as being healthier than butter–and more diet friendly. Unfortunately, the truth is less straightforward.
Most margarines contain trans fat, which is even worse for you than the saturated fat in butter. In fact, according to Self, “Trans fat is a man-made saturated fat in which a food manufacturer takes an unsaturated fat and blasts it with hydrogen atoms to make it into a saturated fat. It is the worst of all fats and the most artery-clogging of all.”
Keep reading for more details!
Trans fats, like the kind you'll find in margarine, can lead to some serious health problems if you are not careful.
According to Healthline, "Artificial trans fats are likewise linked to long-term inflammation, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes, especially for people with obesity or excess weight."
Likewise, if you are hoping to start eating healthier, you should probably steer clear of margarine and other ingredients with partially hydrogenated vegetable oil.
These include coffee creamers, packaged foods, baked goods, fried foods, and (of course) margarine.
Now that does not mean you should start loading up on butter instead.
Self continues, "Since margarine has this trans fat in it that butter does not, it earns the spot of least heart healthy. However, since both stick margarine and butter have saturated fat, neither is a very heart-healthy choice."
Instead, when cooking, try to stick to olive oil, avocado oil, or sesame oil.
This can help keep your healthy dishes healthy and limit the amount of trans fat you are consuming--altogether contributing to a healthier diet.
