Margarine vs. Butter: Understanding the Differences and Which Is Better for Your Health?

Whether or not you can believe it's not butter, you might be curious about what margarine really is. It has a similar creamy, yellow appearance to butter and is easy to spread, but there are some key differences between the two—primarily in their ingredients.

Butter is a

milk byproduct, mostly from cows. By churning cream extracted from milk, a rich, semi-solid emulsion forms, which can be used in both cooking and baking or simply as a spread. While butter is a staple in kitchens worldwide, it has sparked health concerns. Despite being a great source of calcium and vitamins, butter is also high in saturated fat, which has been linked to increased cholesterol levels.

Margarine is often promoted as a healthier alternative to butter, but this isn't always true. Broadly speaking, margarine refers to any butter substitute. The first margarine was far from a health-conscious product; French chemist Hippolyte Mège-Mouriès created it using milk and beef tallow after Emperor Napoleon III offered a reward for a cost-effective butter alternative. Nowadays, many margarine products are vegan, though some still include milk.

A typical tub of margarine contains vegetable oil, water, salt, and emulsifiers. By law, it must have a minimum of 80 percent fat content, the same as dairy butter. Anything with less fat would be classified as a spread. This means that margarine is not necessarily lower in fat than butter, but the types of fat they contain may differ. Butter contains more saturated fat, which is linked to animal protein. In the past, margarine often included trans fats, which are created when vegetable oils are chemically altered to remain solid at room temperature. These fats have been associated with an increased risk of heart disease.

The FDA has removed artificial trans fats from margarine in recent years, making it no longer a concern. However, health experts still debate whether butter or margarine is the healthier option for spreading on toast. While butter may contain more harmful fats, it is also rich in beneficial nutrients. Since the ingredients of margarine can vary greatly, it's difficult to give the product a universal health label.

For those who are lactose intolerant or avoid animal products, vegan margarine can be a good alternative to butter. But if health is your primary concern, it's important to carefully read both the nutrition facts on the back of the package and the label on the front to make an informed decision.