Nutritionist Recommended
Nutrition experts encourage intake of soft spread margarines over butter.
According to experts, Americans should...
- Eat Fewer Solid Fats: These are fats that are solid at room temperature, like butter and shortening, and are typically high in saturated fat and trans fat.
- Eat More Healthy Unsaturated Fats: These are typically plant-based fats, like those found in nuts and seeds, vegetable oils and products made from vegetable oils, including soft spread margarines (also known as buttery spreads).
The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend soft spread margarine as a healthy alternative to solid fats like butter.
The Guidelines classify soft spreads as a healthful "oil" and encourage consumption of margarine spreads, noting: "When using spreads, choose soft margarines with zero trans fats made from liquid vegetable oil."
The government's endorsement of soft spread margarines is consistent with support from other key influencers. Each of the following recommend switching from butter to a soft spread margarine with zero grams trans fat:
- "Research proves that tub or spray margarines are better for you than butter."
- -Center For Science In The Public Interest (CSPI)
- "Use soft margarine as a substitute for butter, and choose soft margarines (liquid or tub varieties) over harder stick forms. Look for "0 g trans fat" on the Nutrition Facts label."
- -The American Heart Association
- "For a spread, use tub or liquid margarine, or vegetable oil spread instead of butter."
- -National Institutes of Health
- "Switch from butter to soft tub margarine. Choose a product that has zero grams of trans fat."
- -Harvard School of Public Health