Butter vs Margarine

DO YOU KNOW… the difference between butter and margarine?

Both butter and margarine have the same amount of calories. Butter is slightly higher in saturated fats at 8 grams; compared to 5 grams for margarine.

Margarine was the idea of a Frenchman in response to a request from Emperor Louis Napoleon for ideas for a less-expensive substitute for butter. In 1869 he used margaric acid and the name of his formulation became known as Margarine. It became a hit in the United States in the late 1800’s.

It was a white substance with no food appeal so they added the yellow coloring and sold it to people to use in place of butter.

Eating margarine can increase heart disease in women by 53% over eating the same amount of butter, according to a recent Harvard Medical Study.

Eating butter increases the absorption of many other nutrients in other foods. Butter has many nutritional benefits where margarine has a few and only because they are added!

Butter tastes much better than margarine and it can enhance the flavors of other foods.

And now, for Margarine.. you’ll notice even ants won’t eat it. (Because it was made in a plant and is not real food.)

Very high in trans fatty acids.

Increases total cholesterol and LDL (this is the bad cholesterol) and lowers HDL cholesterol (the good cholesterol).

Lowers quality of breast milk.

Decreases immune response.

Decreases insulin response. The trans fat can increase blood insulin levels, which increases the risk for diabetes

And here’s the most disturbing fact… Margarine shares 27 ingredients with PAINT.

These facts alone were enough to have me avoiding margarine for life and anything else that is hydrogenated (this means hydrogen is added, changing the molecular structure of the substance).

Open a tub of margarine and leave it open in your garage or shaded area. Within a couple of days you will notice a couple of things:

– No flies, not even those pesky fruit flies will go near it (that should tell you something)

– It does not rot or smell differently because it has no nutritional value; nothing will grow on it. Even those teeny weeny microorganisms will not a find a home to grow.

Butter is a health food if it is sourced from pastured and grass fed cows

Butter is an excellent source of vitamins A, D, E and K, as well as good cholesterol.

Butter contains healthy fatty acids (immune supporting and metabolism boosting, short and medium chain fatty acids).

A great source of minerals like Manganese, Chromium, Zinc, Copper, Selenium, and Iodine.

Butter contains CLA, Conjugated Linoleic Acid which is great for lowering belly fat.

Grass fed cows product cream rich in CLA which can help you store muscle instead of fat and protects against cancer. I also take CLA as a dietary and weight loss supplement daily in addition to raw milk with this fabulous cream on top.

Check out this awesome article by Dr. Briffa in The Times which (I think) settles the butter versus margarine debate once and for all.

If you find it difficult to find farm fresh pastured butter like I do, Kerrygold is a great brand from Ireland that is made with grass fed cows that you can find at most grocery stores, even at Costco. I’ve been using it for years and my family loves it. My girlfriend even blends it into her coffee! They did not pay me to promote Kerrygold but I also love their cheeses like Dubliner! Check it out at your local store!

Cholesterol is needed for healthy cellular function. It supports brain, nervous system, and hormonal development. Especially when you can get it from natural and organic sources, don’t run from it! You’re butter than that!