Butter vs. Margarine: I recently read... - Cholesterol Support

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Butter vs. Margarine

NulaWidger profile image
14 Replies

I recently read that the belief about Margarine being more healthy for you than traditional butter might in fact not be true and that it's marketing over science. Apparently there has been growing research than advice in heart disease, cholesterol and consumption of fats/oils is plain wrong.

Has anyone else heard about this?

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NulaWidger profile image
NulaWidger
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14 Replies
NulaWidger profile image
NulaWidger

Yes this is what I am talking about. Yet there is still so much advertising that indirectly gives consumers the impression that these 'low fat' margarines and the like are healthier for you.

NulaWidger profile image
NulaWidger

yeah so true. The owners of these corporations need to stand trial for crimes against humanity if you ask me.

Aliwally profile image
Aliwally

I have noticed quite a few adverts on TV lately for "spreads" containing a big proportion of butter and not so many for the old style polyunsaturated what not.

There's an interesting article in yesterday's [23 Sept] Daily Mail health section on exactly this subject. Called 'How Butter and Cheese can keep you slim and even ward off diabetes' it is worth reading. I admit they are plugging a book 'The Big Fat Surprise' by Nina Teicholz, but the article exposes Ancel Keys. What a con that man was, he should have been hung for crimes against humanity!

Andyman profile image
Andyman

You could always do what i do and not have either.

meganbelle profile image
meganbelle

I recently had a hip operation and got talking to the nurse visiting me on this very subject and she said, did i know that margarine was the only food substance that a rat would not eat,so this speaks for its self

DakCB-UK profile image
DakCB-UK in reply tomeganbelle

Well there's a guy down the chip shop swears he's Elvis so there!

What is the point of all this bashing based on no evidence?

Here, have some balanced commentary: nhs.uk/news/2014/03March/Pa...

in reply toDakCB-UK

DakCB-UK What about the 'evidence' Ancel Keys used without any foundation in truth and we've all been conned into believing it ever since. How much damage did that man do then?Cholesterol bashing has become a religion. It's more than coincidence that T2 diabetes and obesity are endemic with the NHS and others demonising fats, especially saturated fats and promoting carbohydrate. Our grandmothers generation [none of whom were obese and diabetes T2 was rare] knew very well that carbohydrates were fattening yet the NHS food plate tells you it's healthy to eat a third of a plateful each day. Why has nobody made the connection between this and the surge in diabetes and obesity I wonder?

DakCB-UK profile image
DakCB-UK in reply to

Didn't your grandmother also tell you that two wrongs don't make a right? Please stop the vigorous handwaving and give references. Here's the NHS food plate nhs.uk/Livewell/Goodfood/Pa... and note it says a third of "potatoes, bread, rice, pasta and other starchy foods" not any old carbs. High-sugar foods are discouraged.

Actually I'm not talking of 'any old carbs'. I interpret that specifically as 'bread, rice, pasta etc.' I don't imagine that the obese folk we see actually read what the NHS says let alone follow it but you can't get away from the fact that obesity and T2 is endemic. and on the increase.

I was told I was at risk for T2 a year ago and did some research which is why I think their food plate is WRONG. If you need to control your blood sugar you shouldn't be eating all those carbs. FACT.

I'm no a scientist or nutritionist I just determined to read up the evidence for myself and the advice offered by 'experts' doesn't weigh up IMHO.

Penel profile image
Penel in reply to

My husband was on the way to T2 a few years ago. We did the same as you, and cut right down on the simple starches, with great results. We have a few high fibre carbs now, like sweet potato. There are definitely too many of the wrong type of carbs in the NHS recommendation.

NulaWidger profile image
NulaWidger

High fructose corn syrup is the major player on obesity. It goes by many names and is contained in just so many things. Why, you might ask is it so damaging? Well there are a number of reasons but primarily it's because it inhibits the production of leptin from the liver which signals the brain that we are full after eating. Essentially, conning the brain into constantly thinking we are starving. There was an excellent documentary series (BBC i think) called The Men who made us fact which goes into a great detail of how corn syrup came into being and why, COMBINED with fats it affects our health. I check on youtube, not sure if this is episode one of the series but i'm sure with something searching you could find the whole series: youtube.com/watch?v=iE-H__a...

sandybrown profile image
sandybrown

Is it butter or margarine we need to use?

NulaWidger profile image
NulaWidger in reply tosandybrown

butter.. but still in 'healthy' quantities

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