Why Soft Spread Margarine?
Simple dietary changes, like switching from butter to soft spread margarine, can help lower cholesterol levels and one's risk of heart disease.
Research proves the heart health benefits of spreads. One groundbreaking study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, showed that making the simple switch from butter to soft margarine spreads lowered "bad" cholesterol levels by 9 percent in children and 11 percent in adults.
In addition, consumers gain the following benefits by choosing soft spread margarines (also know as buttery spreads):
- Soft spread margarines provide fewer calories per serving than solid fats, like butter. Most soft spread margarine contain 25-60 percent fewer calories than butter. While a savings of 25 calories per serving may seem small, making that daily substitution could result in a 2.5 pound weight loss over a year's time.
- Soft spread margarines provide a rich source of heart-healthy unsaturated fat. Unsaturated fats (often referred to as "good" fats) have been shown to reduce inflammation and lower blood cholesterol levels. Vegetable oils, and foods made from vegetable oils like soft spread margarine, are an excellent source of unsaturated fats.
- Switching from butter to soft spread margarine helps to reduce intake of solid fats. Fats that are solid at room temperature, like butter and shortening, are typically high in saturated fat and trans fat and should be limited. Instead, consumers are encouraged to choose healthy unsaturated fats, like those found in vegetable oils and products made from vegetable oils, including soft spread margarines.
