The two most famous accompaniments on Brazilian tables are also unknowns in the minds of those who are looking for a healthier lifestyle. After all, butter or margarine, which of the two options is better for those who want to stay away from unhealthy foods? See what a nutritionist has to say about this!

Butter X margarine: which of the two options is healthier – Photo: Pexels / Reproduction / ND

To better dispel this doubt and put an end to the struggle, no data+ spoke to nutritionist Carol Vaz, who explained the differences in the accompaniments produced and determined the winner. Check it out below:

How are they produced?

Butter

According to Carol Vaz, “butter is a dairy product of animal origin. Obtained from milk fat. The process consists of whipping cream (cream) from milk until it becomes an emulsion of water and fat.

“Therefore, it is made from frothed milk. It contains lactose and natural colors such as annatto. But attention, fat is saturated, so it should be consumed in moderation. After eating 60 g of saturated fat, the body begins to oxidize this fat, so consume it in moderation, ”the nutritionist explained.

Margarine

However, according to Carol, “Margarine is made from corn, soybean or sunflower oil through a process called hydrogenation. It is the chemical reaction of adding hydrogen to a molecule that turns the oil from a liquid to a solid. After this process, bleaches and additives are added, where the danger lies.”

Want to know more?

The nutritionist also claims that “margarine, despite the presence of unsaturated fats, contains trans fats, which, during the production of margarine, change the connection of the fat molecule and change its format. This process is widely used in industry as it increases the shelf life of the product and requires less refrigeration.”

“Trans fats are fats produced by industry and our body doesn’t recognize them as its own, reacting to them and causing inflammation. In addition, our body uses nutrients to metabolize this synthetic fat. As a result, this type of fat can accumulate in the blood vessels or in important organs such as the liver.”

According to Carol, margarine is stored in plastic, which contains “bisphenol A, among other toxins from plastic, they are considered endocrine disruptors, that is, they change the metabolism of hormones involved in the regulation of energy metabolism. Changing appetite and favoring obesity,” he said.

The healthiest with reservations

Butter was considered by the nutritionist to be the most useful option, but a warning from a specialist is still in order.

Carol explained that “while butter is the best option, it is high in calories and high in saturated fat and cholesterol, which in excess can lead to high cholesterol, obesity, heart disease and other comorbidities. On the other hand, there are ingredients in oil that are recognized by our body as they are not nutrients. In addition, they contribute to the absorption of vitamins A, D, E and K.

“People with lactose restriction should use ghee, which extracts lactose significantly, but not completely. As far as CMP is concerned (allergy to cow’s milk protein), butter is not recommended.”

Finally, the nutritionist advises: “Margarine is better to give preference to butter, another option would be to freeze extra virgin olive oil flavored with rosemary, thyme, turmeric and salt in small glass jars. Take it out while drinking and enjoy a sensual and extremely rewarding experience.”