Butter me up, baby!

I recently watched (again) the movie "Kate & Leopold" in which Leopold, a duke from the 18th century, is transported to modern day New York through some weird time continuum. Far fetched, but cute. So is Leopold. Falling for New York ad exec Kate, he agreed to participate in a screen test for, and then shoot a commercial for "Farmer's Bounty", a margarine that was supposed to taste like butter. The day he shot the commercial was the high point and explains my distaste for margarine. The scene goes like this (sort of)... Leopold has a close up with him after his 'butler' serves him the Farmer's Bounty. "Fresh, creamery butter.... is there anything that tastes so good...." and then goes on to talk about how Farmer's bounty is lower in fat, and will add to your taste buds while not adding to your waistline. Then, he bites into his bread that he smothered in the supposed delicious tasting butter substitute, Farmer's Bounty. The look of utter anguish on his face as he tries hard to swallow it is priceless. He then goes on a rant about how disgusting it is. He lost the commercial! Kate, later tells him it's margarine, it's supposed to taste bad. And that, my friends, is where I enter the debate.....

This week, I had a debate with a fellow dieter *gasp*, about the use of butter or margarine. I love butter, and butter loves me! We have a mutual understanding - I won't discuss the saturated fat in butter if it doesn't add pounds to my thighs. I've kept my end of the bargain. Butter on the other hand, did not! It has wrapped itself nicely around my thighs ... and butt... and other places. I have forgiven butter because I love it so.... But, before I discard with my affair with butter, let me present my argument.

Until recently, all margarines were hydrogenated (a process of heating refined vegetable oils) which of course, produced a dangerous type of fat called Trans Fatty acids. Nasty things, these trans fats. I also learned that another way of "disguising" trans fats was to label them as partially hydrogenated oils. Gasp! Imagine! Partially! Now, of course, with the emphasis on lowering the nasty cholesterol (LDL) margarines have been 'healthified' - yes that's a word, I made it up myself! It means they are not totally healthy, but healthier than they were! They now contain omega 3 and plant sterols. According to my university nutrition course (that's supposed to make me sound like an expert) omega 3 keep your brain functioning and also acts as an anti-inflamatory. Omega 3 is also good for the health of your heart. Plant sterols, apparently, help reduce cholesterol.

So, what about my beloved butter?

Well, butter is natural. it is also an excellent source (seriously) of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. It is a pure fat (okay that sounded bad as soon as I wrote it down) and doesn't contain many of the allergens found in other dairy products, so people who are generally sensitive to dairy can tolerate butter very nicely, thank you!. Unfortunately, the downside to butter is that it contains dietary cholesterol (the bad stuff) and saturated fat. *Here, I hang my head in shame* One teaspoon of butter contains 7 gms of saturated fat. The recommended daily allowance of saturated fats is no more than 10-15 gms per day. Yikes. Saturated fat is the leading cause of heart disease.

So, I concluded that butter and margarine both have their good and bad points. It comes down to personal preference. Given the pros/cons of each, I choose butter! I do limit my intake of the creamy indulgence, and count each point (1 tsp = 1 pt). Other than the omega 3, lower fat content, and plant sterols, I still believe that butter is a healthy choice especially for the fat soluble vitamins! but agree it must be used in moderation! Your body NEEDS a certain amount of fat. (he he... i can justify anything). I do try to eliminate much of the crap in my diet as possible, and I therefore choose unsalted butter. Next time you are in the grocery store check out the sodium level of your beloved margarine over my beloved unsalted butter! Butter wins.

Butter is my treat. I don't use it everyday. I use it sparingly. I count the points. I make sure that I get my other things in, the other plant sterols, omega 3, etc., that my body and brain need to keep functioning. It seriously comes down to personal preference, and I prefer the taste of butter over the falsely labeled margarine...."I can't believe it's not butter"... who ever came up with that slogan should be shot! I can't believe it's EDIBLE should be the real name! Ick. I have weighed the health benefits/risks of both.

Feeling quite justified in my argument with my friend and now I have only one thing left to say....


Please pass the butter!!!!