There are a multitude of options at the supermarket when it comes to butters and spreads.
Manny of us have a passionate preference for either butter, margarine or nut spreads, but which one is best for our household or health?
We asked the experts what their advice is and how to determine what might be right for our diet.
What’s the difference between butter, margarine or nut spreads?
Dr Emma Beckett likes to keep all three options in her fridge at home.
Our dietary guidelines are due for an update. What can we expect?
There’s a growing trend for dietary guidelines around the world to take into account not just human health, but also the health of the planet.
“I use them for different things, like baking, cooking and eating,” says the food and nutrition scientist based in Newcastle/Awabakal.
“So, you might have a preference for the taste of butter, or you might have a preference for the health benefits of margarine, or you might be looking for a nuttier flavor, the choice is ultimately yours.”
She says butter is made from milk, margarine is made from vegetable or seed oils, and nut spreads typically contain, as their name suggests, ground nuts such as peanuts, almonds, and cashews.
While margarine and nut spreads have mostly unsaturated fats, butter contains saturated fats.
Rebecca mcphee, an accredited dietitian at Diabetes Australia, says a “high intake of saturated fa
Butter, Margarine, and Nut Spreads: A Health Outlook
norman Swan says eating too much butter, margarine or nut spreads could increase weight gain. (Supplied)
Author and medically qualified journalist Dr Norman Swan says butter, margarine and nut spreads are all “calorie dense”.
“So, if you’re going to be [eating] a mountain of margarine, a mountain of butter, you’re likely to put on weight,” he says.
“There’s a route between a high-fat diet and type 2 diabetes, and it’s largely through the fat around your waist.
“And that also translates to an increased risk of cancer and poorer outcomes if you’ve got cancer.”