What is the healthiest spread?
Margarine has quite a bit of history and IMO those who treat it like literal poison are still stuck in the 70ies/80ies when margarine was a significant source of trans fat, which was indeed very bad. Many countries have now implemented bans on trans fat, and most margarines are just a blend of plant oils and some fortification (vit A, vit D); there’s nothing particularly sinister about it. However, it does have to contain some saturated fat - usually from palm oil - in order to make it solid.
Lots of people on the internet like to fearmonger about seed oils e.g. canola, but in modest amounts (especially when replacing sat fat), they are pretty consistently associated with good health outcomes. (Example)
I use small amounts of margarine as needed because I like the taste and it’s easier to spread lmao. But generally I think it’s more prudent to simply try to limit either option and opt for things like olive oil more often
Child of the 70s here. Margarine is demon spread. It kept us away from butter for decades under the guise of being healthier, which it is NOT.
No answer to your Q, sorry, just had to get that off my chest
Margerine Used to contain trans fat before it was banned in most countries.As spreads go peanut butter, almond butter, etc is the healthiest spread you can find, much less refined than seed oil based margarine and low in saturated fat compared to spreads like butter, all while being rich in vitamin e and essential minerals like magnesium etc.Just make sure to get a brand that’s low or free of salt, added sugar and doesn’t mix in palm oil as a stabiliser.
I’m not sure if this is allowed here. It’s a short article from Smithsonian Magazine about margarine, toxic food colorants, and politics. Maybe it plays into the vilification of margarine.
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/food-dye-origins-when-margarine-was-pink-175950936/