Q & A: Is Butter Healthy Yet?

[BABY1]

TweetQ: Is it okay to eat butter or should I stick to margarine?


A: Margarine, the most popular butter alternative, and butter are fairly similar in that they both have 35 calories and 4 grams of fat per teaspoon. The difference: Margarine ha less saturated fat and no cholesterol because it's made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, but eating products containing partially hydrogenated oil increases LDL cholesterol, lowers HDL cholesterol (the good kind), and causes fat deposits around organs.
So which should you choose? Organic butter, in moderation, is best because it does not contain the artificial ingredients found in margarine. A small pad of butter on your veggies helps absorb nutrients better because fat aids in the transportation and absorption of fat-soluble vitamins. Another way the fat in butter can be useful is by helping to lower the overall gylcemic effect of carbohydrates on your body (for example, on a baked potato). Lowering the gylcemic effect of carbohydrates helps keep your energy consistent.
If you want a tub butter, choose one without partially hydrogentated oil. We like Earth Balance Natural Spreads and Smart Balance Spreads.
For something completely different, here are some alternatives to butter for use in recipes or as spreads:

• Canola, olive, grape seed, or flaxseed oil
• Tahini
• Almond, cashew, macadamia, or peanut butter
• Low-fat cream cheese
• Low-fat ricotta
• Hummus (try our homemade recipe)
• Avocado

[daved150]

Tweetthat what i use...organic butter!! its probboly 1 of the only organic things i buy (most that stuff is too costly).

[a-bomb83]

Tweetif i use butter, i use spray butter. look at the nutrution facts, there's really nothing in it. also, in regards to butter vs. margarine, leave a stick of each outside and flies will go to the butter, not the margarine. its a couple molecules away from being plastic.

[EVERLAST]

Tweetgrass fed beef and grass fed butter have CLA in high enough amounts that make them desireable and healthy! Grass fed is superior to the grain lot feeding techniques developed in the 1940s that require antibiotics and are generally unhealthy ways to fatten up cattle prior to slaughter. Just like people grain fed fat cattle are unhealthy
and not good food for healthy people.

[deepsouth]

TweetWell I eat plenty of beef, but I deer hint and eat o ton of deer through the year which is far leaner and superior to beef

[Dzone]

TweetNo way on margarine. Trans fats are the worst fats. I buy any kind of butter..whichever is on sale..I like to melt butter in the microwave and then pour it on stuff. Maybe I should go organic butter, I dunno

[deepsouth]

TweetI used to hate real butter, but in the last year or two, I have come to enjoy the taste much more than margarine. It's all I use now and it gives my foods a much better taste. I have also switch to Olive oil in most of my cooking

[daved150]

Tweetyea..me too...alot of olive oil. if baking...real butter. i always liked real butter

[Dzone]

Tweetcorn on the cob drizzled in butter with a shaker of salt...last night got a plain baked potato from Wendys and put just a small amount of butter..thats a healthy meal..I need to do that more...but then last night I lost it and put away 2 pints of ben and jerrys ice cream..*****!!!!!!