At a recent holiday luncheon at my church, I was quickly reminded that the average person is still completely clueless about fats, particularly as they pertain to butter versus margarine.
We had Italian food catered, and there was a bowl of wrapped butter pats next to the bread. One of the women asked in a rather loud tone, “Isn’t there any margarine for the bread? Butter is so bad for you!”
Most of the congregation knows that I’m a nutrition coach, so of course all eyes turned toward me…and I tried to contain my horror at this lady’s apparent unawareness, because it’s really not her fault.
The manufacturers of vegetable oils and margarine, as well as the American Heart Association (which has the US Canola Association and the US Soybean Board on their Nutrition Advisory Panel) have all done an excellent job at brainwashing people into thinking saturated fats like butter are bad and cause heart disease.
Lay it on the line
If you are still in the “butter is bad, margarine is healthy” camp, you’re not alone.
To make the differences between butter and margarine abundantly clear, I’ve created the little table below so you can see for yourself, once and for all, that you’ve been bamboozled, and then you’ll know the truth.
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Butter |
Margarine |
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Manufacturing |
Butter is created when cow’s milk or cream is churned. There is evidence that butter has been used in cuisines for over 4,000 years. |
Margarine starts with vegetable oils that are extracted by high temperatures which turns them rancid, emulsifiers are added, they are steamed to remove their horrendous odor, bleached to remove gray coloring, molded into tubs or sticks, and sold as a “healthy” food. |
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Nutrient content |
Butter is naturally rich in numerous essential nutrients, including vitamins A, D, E and K, as well as manganese, chromium, iodine, zinc, copper and selenium. |
Margarine contains NO naturally occurring nutrients. Some manufacturers add synthetic vitamins A and D. |
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Antioxidant properties |
Butter is a powerful antioxidant, providing a rich source of carotene, and vitamins A and E. These all protect against heart disease as well as cancer. |
Margarine contains NO antioxidants. On the contrary, it contains oxidized polyunsaturated fats (created when the oils are heated in the manufacturing process) and omega-6 inflammatory fats. These raise your risk of heart disease and cancer. |
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GMO content |
Butter is not derived from GMO ingredients. |
Margarine is derived from vegetable oils from plants such as safflower, sunflower, soybean and cottonseed, many of which are genetically modified and contain the cancer-causing herbicide glyphosate (the active ingredient in RoundUp). |
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Preservatives |
As a naturally stable saturated fat, butter requires no preservatives. |
BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) is typically added to margarine to ensure longer shelf life. BHT has been linked to cancer and tumors in lab studies. |
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Heart health |
It is inflammation that is the main culprit behind heart disease—not the saturated fat found in butter! Plus your heart relies on saturated fats during times of stress! |
Margarine contains omega-6 fats which stir up inflammation, thereby increasing your risk of heart disease. |
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Various other health benefits |
The vitamin A found in butter boosts the immune system, supports thyroid health and protects against cancer; its carotene supports eye health; its rare hormone-like substance (Wulzen Factor) protects against arthritis; and its minerals enhance bone health. |
Margarine is devoid of nutrients and therefore provides negligible to no health benefits. |
I could go on but I think you get the point!
Nature will NEVER steer you wrong!
When it comes to knowing what’s best for you and your health, rely on Nature, my friend. It will never steer you wrong.
Here are two of the best ways you can start relying on Nature to enhance your health!
1- Rely on the farmer—not the pharmacist
See what a difference it can make to use food as your medicine with the right diet and sound digestion!
I can guide you through this important step with my Great Taste No Pain health system.
Great Taste No Pain stresses the importance of wholesome real foods like fresh vegetables and fruits, meats, poultry and fish, real butter and healthy fats.
Plus it teaches you the science of food combining which shows you how to pair foods together in your meals to pave the way for smooth, comfortable digestion.
This is crucial because if your digestion is poor, in addition to gas, bloating, heartburn and constipation being your regular companions, you will not be absorbing nutrients like you should, and that sets the stage for disease to come knocking.
With Great Taste No Pain you'll also get menu suggestions, and a collection of delicious, easy recipes that make eating for great health thoroughly enjoyable!
Now, if weight loss is your main goal or New Year’s resolution, then my Want to Lose Weight? Stop Dieting! program is just what you need!
Want to Lose Weight? Stop Dieting! contains the same food combining guidance as in Great Taste No Pain, plus it guides you on how to adopt the exercise program that is right for you, and educates you many sneaky outside factors that may be slowing your weight loss and how to overcome them.
2- Support your gut microbiome
Processed foods (like margarine) can be murder on your gut microbiome, as can many common pharmaceutical drugs including antibiotics, acid reducers, pain medications, antidepressants and steroids.
The beneficial bacteria in your intestinal tract house 70 percent of your immune system as well as help keep your digestion smooth and efficient.
So if you're lacking a strong, healthy population of helpful microbes in your gut, your digestion is most assuredly compromised, and your immune function may be weakened—so you are without its vital protection against disease.
In addition to having a healthy diet of natural real foods, supplementation with a potent multi-strain probiotic like Super Shield multi-strain probiotic formula can go a long way in supporting a healthy gut environment.
Super Shield's 13 high-quality strains of potent friendly bacteria are ready to help strengthen your gut wall, enhance your digestion, encourage regular BMs and beef up your immune system.
Now you are on your way to better health NATURALLY in 2020!
To your health,
Sherry Brescia
Thank you for your feedback and inquiries, everyone!
Smart Balance and Earth Balance (and other plant based butters) can be used cold (ie: spread on toast) and enjoyed. When heated up, they can turn to trans fats so we do not recommend it.
Smart Balance for example, is a dairy-free option you could enjoy!
I have your Great Taste No Pain materials! Excellent! Also I only use butter and Super Shield I’d a tremendous Probiotic! Taking this and a good multi- vitamin plus Vitamin D and B, also good exercise and walking every day, at age 74 I am very healthy, thank the Lord, I have not had the flu in 9 years now! Also no major stomach in as long of time! If my stomach does act up some, I drink a swallow of sauerkraut juice and within 15-30 minutes it has taken it away every time!!!
What is your best advice for people that are lactose intolerant? Mine is excessive mucus that forms in my throat after eating dairy products.
I’m totally agree what you are saying…..BUT people like me are food intolerant and Lactose intolerant as well. I can’t drink any milk, eat any cream or have any cheeses.
I have ALL of your books which are very helpful to keep my digesting track going right way………..I can’t have butter and I do use a margarine on my toast, I’m using it for all my life…………Krystyna P. from Australia
I’m wondering about Earth Balance as well or like a product called Melt — which is a plant based butter? We are trying to stay away from all dairy products. What are your thoughts on those, as opposed to regular margarine? Would love to hear your thoughts! Thank you!