Margarine or spreads are made from vegetable or seed oils (e.g. sunflower oil), which contain good fats like monounsaturates and polyunsaturates. So compared to butter, which is basically made from cream (the fat of the milk), margarine naturally tends to have fewer bad fats (like saturated fat).
This means that switching from butter to margarine can be an easy way to cut down on your saturated fats – without a big change to what you're eating.
- Fat Fact: Margarine can be a great source of mono - and polyunsaturates (like Omega 3 and Omega 6), and a good source of fat-soluble vitamins A, D and E
- Fat Fact: Most margarines contain only trace amounts of trans fats (bad ones!), whereas butter typically contains 3% trans fats
- Fat Fact: Some margarines can contain up to 78% less saturated fat than butter
- Fat Fact: Four slices of bread spread with margarine could contain as much as 15% of your daily requirement of good fats (Omega 3 and Omega 6) and as little as 5% of your daily calorie intake or GDA for calories
- Fat Fact: Switching from butter to margarine as part of a healthy diet and lifestyle can help to manage your cholesterol level
Know Your Sat Fats Booklet
