butter

Here’s an article I wrote for the Ottawa Sun on the Butter vs. Margarine debate.

The History

Butter has been eaten by humans for thousands of years. It wasn’t until the last few decades that it got a bad reputation because of its high cholesterol and saturated fat content. Margarine was originally marketed because it was cheaper to make than butter. Food manufacturers made us believe that margarine was the butter replacement of choice claiming that it was better for your health.

Unfortunately, margarine was initially made by hydrogenating oils. Hydrogenated oils are made by forcing hydrogen gas into the oil at high pressure which makes the oil solid and extends its shelf life. This was a bonus for food manufacturers because it was cheap to make and lasted longer. The truth soon came out that these hydrogenated oils created dangerous trans fats which are worse than the saturated fats that they were replacing. Thankfully, most margarines are not made with hydrogenated oils anymore but are they a healthier option?

Read the rest…..