Margarine Urban Myths: Dispelling Fact From Fiction

I’ve noticed some information posted recently by self-proclaimed experts on Scribd.com about the “dangers” of margarine. First of all, let me just say that I consume margarine on a daily basis – heart disease runs in my family, and margarine is one tool I use to help prevent the same thing from happening to me. Second, I work with the National Association of Margarine Manufacturers so I’ve thoroughly read the studies on margarine and have a lot of information that is backed by sound science. So, let me break it down for you: there are a lot of urban myths being spread about margarine by people who have no scientific background or evidence. But don’t worry, Emma is here (that’s me!) to dispel these nasty Internet rumors. Here we go: o Margarine is not now and was never used to fatten turkeys. o Margarine is not one molecule away from plastic; margarine is an emulsion made from natural vegetable oils and water to which nutrients like Vitamin A, needed to sustain life, are added. As noted by several sources that have examined this urban legend, specifically with regard to the claim that “margarine is one molecule away from plastic,” such a statement is meaningless. See http://www.blurtit.com/q158546.html. As noted in that source, water is only one atom away from hydrogen peroxide and oxygen is only one atom away from ozone. Hydrogen peroxide and ozone can both have serious deleterious effects if consumed improperly, bout no one would suggest that people should refrain from consumption of water and oxygen because of some exaggerated chemical similarity. o Margarine is no longer high in trans fat. Go to any grocery store and you will find a “contains 0 grams trans fat” statement on the label of most any soft margarine product. o When compared to butter, margarine actually reduces LDL-cholesterol. This is clearly documented in a major peer-reviewed research study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. [put in citation] In fact, in some cases, when substituted for butter, margarine actually lowers LDL-cholesterol more than cholesterol-lowering prescription medications. o Margarine is made from natural vegetable oil; butter is made from animal fat. o Today’s typical margarine has less than 2 grams of saturated fat per serving compared to 7 grams of saturated fat in butter and no cholesterol (butter has 30 milligrams). And most margarine products are significantly lower in calories than butter. o Margarine has never been shown to increase the risk of cancer. An overall healthy diet includes consuming a wide range of foods in moderation. heart healthy diet includes fruits and vegetables, grains, dairy products, meat and beans, and vegetable oils. A heart healthy diet also minimizes intake of foods like animal fats, such as butter. Simply switching to margarine can greatly impact family health, as margarine products contain no cholesterol, little to no trans fats, and taste great! I’ve got a blog that provides information on heart health (including information on my mainstay, margarine) so feel free to check it out at www.iheartmargarine.com.

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If you are still not convinced, go to the Web sites of: the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/transfat.html (see “Pop Quiz: What Should You Choose” and keep in mind this information is several years old and based on margarine products, from which the trans fats have now been removed); the American Heart Association, http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3036543; and National Heart Lung and Blood Institute of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/chd/Tipsheets/fats.htm.