jumperconway 0 #1 October 20, 2004 ...and another thing Margarine or butter? If you answered "butter," I've got some information that will make you glad you did. Last week an HSI member sent me an e-mail that had been forwarded multiple times, but appears to have originated from L. Eugene Arnold, M.Ed., M.D.; a Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry at Ohio State University. Here's what Dr. Arnold writes: "Do you know the difference between margarine and butter? * Both have the same amount of calories. * Butter is slightly higher in saturated fats at 8 grams compared to 5 grams. * Eating margarine can increase heart disease in women by 53% over eating the same amount of butter, according to a recent Harvard Medical Study. * Eating butter increases the absorption of many other nutrients in other foods. * Butter has many nutritional benefits where margarine has a few only because they are added! * For most people, butter tastes better than margarine and it can enhance the flavors of other foods. (The best flavor claim margarine can make in ads is that it tastes the same as butter.) * Butter has been around for centuries where margarine has been around for less than 100 years. "And now, for Margarine... * Very high in trans fatty acids. * Triple risk of coronary heart disease. * Increases total cholesterol and LDL (this is the bad cholesterol) * Lowers HDL cholesterol, (the good cholesterol). * Increases the risk of cancers by up to five fold. * Lowers quality of breast milk. * Decreases immune response. * Decreases insulin response. "And here is the part that is very interesting! Margarine is but ONE MOLECULE away from being PLASTIC. This fact alone was enough to have me avoiding margarine for life and anything else that is hydrogenated (this means hydrogen is added, changing the molecular structure of the substance). "You can try this yourself: purchase a tub of margarine and leave it in your garage or shaded area. Within a couple of days you will note a couple of things: no flies, not even those pesky fruit flies will go near it (that should tell you something) It does not rot or smell differently. Nothing will grow on it - not even those teeny weeny microorganisms will not find a home to grow. Why? Because it is nearly plastic. Would you melt your Tupperware and spread that on your toast? "Share This With Your Friends - (Butter them up.) "Additional info: Children who eat butter or drink whole milk with butterfat have better resistance to infection. "P.S. This was not sponsored by the dairy industry." I've heard some of these facts before, but some of them were new to me, so I asked HSI Panelist Allan Spreen, M.D., for his take on the list, and he didn't hesitate: "Absolutely true. The guy's read my book. In it, I call margarine 'plastic butter.' It's very, very bad stuff. I cheat and have to drink city water sometimes. But I try never to do that with margarine." The book that Dr. Spreen refers to is his "Nutritionally Incorrect: Why the American Diet is Dangerous and How to Defend Yourself" (Woodland Publishing). Plastic butter! Will you ever go within ten feet of margarine again? To Your Good Health, Jenny Thompson Health Sciences Institute Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sabre2th 0 #2 October 20, 2004 So is that like eating paint chips when you were a kid? Thats good info.. I only eat butter anyway. Just tastes better. Nick. Those who dance, are cosidered insane by those who can't hear the music. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smiles 0 #3 October 20, 2004 Myself & family have always eaten butter but we now also use Becel Margarine- No trans fat- non hydrogenated- low in saturated fat.......the container also has a big check for "Health". So- if it is non-hydrogenated does that mean this margarine may reduce the risk of heart disease??? SMiles Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 1,683 #4 October 20, 2004 I think the last part is a giveaway - that she sometimes even drinks citywater. www.nrdc.org/water/drinking/nbw.asp... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkydiveNFlorida 0 #5 October 20, 2004 QuoteSo- if it is non-hydrogenated does that mean this margarine may reduce the risk of heart disease??? There are butter-like spreads that do not have trans-fats (non-hydrogenated). Such as Smart Blance and Earth Balance. I do not include hydrogenated oil foods in my diet. In order to accomplish this, I have had to pretty much stop shopping at publix (except for paper goods), and switch to Whole Foods (health food/organic) market. Hydrogenated oils are used in many many products in order to extend their shelf life. So, they make this indestructable stuff out of oil (see crisco and other shortenings) and put it in your food so they don't have to worry about replacing products for years at a time (see any of your supermarket "healthy" granola bars, instant oatmeal, cookies, snack foods). Trans fat is WORSE than Sat fat because while Sat fat increases LDL (bad cholesterol), Trans fat does the same thing PLUS lowers HDL (good cholesterol). So, although replacing margarine with butter is definitely a good start, most of the products that many people consume have this crap in them (hamburger helper, etc, pretty much anything that sits on a shelf at Publix). -A Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumperconway 0 #6 October 20, 2004 Quote I think the last part is a giveaway - that she sometimes even drinks citywater. www.nrdc.org/water/drinking/nbw.asp Very good info. John, thanx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vallerina 2 #7 October 20, 2004 Mmm...butter.There's a thin line between Saturday night and Sunday morning Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpeedRacer 1 #8 October 20, 2004 QuoteI do not include hydrogenated oil foods in my diet. In order to accomplish this, I have had to pretty much stop shopping at publix (except for paper goods), and switch to Whole Foods (health food/organic) market. butter has hydrogenated oils. That's what saturated fat is: a chain of carbon atoms with hydrogen attached to them, and no double bonds. triglycerides, present in animal fats, are mostly hydrogenated as well. if there are no doublle bonds in the carbon chain, there will be no kinks or bends in the chain. this makes all the lipids stack up together very tightly, and that is why the presence of saturated fat makes lipids stiff, whereas mono or polyunsaturated fats don't stack up against each other as neatly, so you get a more liquid lipid. Speed Racer -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bolas 5 #9 October 20, 2004 http://www.snopes.com/food/warnings/butter.asp QuoteAlthough a great deal of the information given in the e-mail is valid, one bit of intelligence is nothing more than hyperbole tossed in by the author in an effort to make his point more strongly. The claim that some comestible is but a "single molecule away" from being a decidedly inedible (or even toxic) substance has been applied to a variety of processed foods, but that type of statement (even if it were true) is essentially meaningless. Many disparate substances share similar chemical properties, but even the slightest variation in molecular structure can make a world of difference in the qualities of those substances. Stupidity if left untreated is self-correcting If ya can't be good, look good, if that fails, make 'em laugh. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkydiveNFlorida 0 #10 October 20, 2004 Quotebutter has hydrogenated oils. That's what saturated fat is: a chain of carbon atoms with hydrogen attached to them, and no double bonds. triglycerides, present in animal fats, are mostly hydrogenated as well. If you say so... I haven't done the chemical research to agree or disagree. I do know that the process of hydrogenation of oil creates trans-fat, which is just as bad if not worse than saturated fat. Angela. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpeedRacer 1 #11 October 20, 2004 I'm just saying that hydrogenated (=saturated) fats exist naturally, especially in animal fats and in certain nuts and tropical oils. Speed Racer -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpeedRacer 1 #12 October 20, 2004 Quote"And here is the part that is very interesting! Margarine is but ONE MOLECULE away from being PLASTIC. WTF does this mean? One molecule of one thing is one molecule away from being something else??? NO SHIT SHERLOCK!! this claim just doesnt make any sense. could you explain what you're trying to say here?? Speed Racer -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 1,683 #13 October 20, 2004 QuoteQuote"And here is the part that is very interesting! Margarine is but ONE MOLECULE away from being PLASTIC. WTF does this mean? One molecule of one thing is one molecule away from being something else??? NO SHIT SHERLOCK!! this claim just doesnt make any sense. could you explain what you're trying to say here?? It's like saying a human is one DNA molecule away from being a toadstool.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,178 #14 October 20, 2004 Quotea human is one DNA molecule away from being a toadstool Maybe you are . I'm made of sugar and spice and everything nice -- that's what little girls are made of Wendy W.There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tandembrent 0 #15 October 21, 2004 man, i have been telling people for years that margerine is only one molecule different than plastic. and like many other things that i read about and try to pass on, people just stare blankly and then act like i just saw ET ! the american public has this ingrained belief that if it's on the market that it must be safe. o our government is only required to answer the questions that WE ask of them ! peace, brent ***~~~~Green grass and high clouds forever~~~~ no matter where you go, there you are! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Remster 26 #16 October 21, 2004 QuoteI'm made of sugar and spice and everything nice -- that's what little girls are made of Yeah... but what happens when they're all grown up? Remster Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
feuergnom 22 #17 October 21, 2004 i ususally spread some butter betwenn my girlfriends.... duh - that's not a sex-thread either The universal aptitude for ineptitude makes any human accomplishment an incredible miracle dudeist skydiver # 666 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumperconway 0 #18 October 21, 2004 QuoteQuoteI'm made of sugar and spice and everything nice -- that's what little girls are made of Yeah... but what happens when they're all grown up? Piss and vinegar? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
