What is healthier, margarine or butter?

Both butter and margarine are essential foods in our refrigerators , as we use them to spread on bread, to make desserts, or even to add flavor to a dish.

Of course, because it is rich in fat, we use it in moderation but, Which of the two is more harmful?

Butter

Its main component is animal fat, basically cream (it can be from any animal, but it is usually cow's milk). Therefore, it is rich in fats and vitamins such as A and D.

However, because it has a lot of saturated fat, it could be said to be a cholesterol bomb, which can cause health damage if consumed frequently in large quantities.

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Despite being a source of cholesterol, nutrition expert Fernanda Alvarado clarifies that studies have been conducted on the subject and conclude that butter has no limited health effects, meaning it does not negatively affect blood cholesterol.

And it has other not-so-healthy components such as gelling agents (to give it a spreadable texture), colorings and flavorings, all of which are artificial and are used in processed products.

Butter has an average of 717 calories per 100 grams.

Margarine

Unlike the former, it's based on vegetable fats and was invented as a substitute for butter, meaning it's a less harmful option, especially for people with cardiovascular problems. The truth is that its processing is more complex and industrialized than the former, which doesn't make it any more advisable.

For the margarine to have a consistency and texture suitable for use (to be soft), It must be subjected to hydrogenation and transesterification, both of which allow obtaining a solid fat from a liquid one.

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Hydrogenation causes vegetable fat to become more saturated, and in the process, it can turn into trans fats. This doesn't make it any better than a food made from animal fat.

Fernanda Alvarado tells us: "This is recommended for people with heart disease as long as the margarines don't contain hydrogenated fats."

Among its nutrients are vitamins A and D and phytosterols.

It has exactly the same calories as butter.

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