Is New Improved Margarine Good for You??

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Is New Improved Margarine Good for You?

 

What do you think about the new margarine Smart Balance which claims it has no

trans fatty acids? Is it healthier?

 

-- Shefaly Ravula

 

 

Answer (Published 04/03/2002)

 

The manufacturer of Smart Balance margarine claims that its product contains no

hydrogenated oil and no trans fatty acids and that it therefore should lower LDL

" bad " cholesterol and raise HDL, " good " cholesterol, just the opposite effect of

spreads that contain both of these forms of fat.

 

This is supposed to happen if you limit your intake of dietary fat to 30 percent

of daily calories and keep your consumption of dietary cholesterol to under 300

mg per day -- in other words, if the fat in your diet is the same blend of

saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats in Smart Balance.

 

Incidentally, Smart Balance replaces trans fatty acids with palm oil, a tropical

oil that is 50 percent saturated fat. There's not enough palm oil in Smart

Balance to raise cholesterol levels, but it is a saturated fat nonetheless.

 

The patented blend of oils in Smart Balance may, indeed, live up to the

manufacturers' claims if the dietary fats in your diet really do mirror the mix

of fats the margarine provides, but managing this on a daily basis isn't as

simple as it may seem.

 

If you have cholesterol problems, I recommend limiting your saturated fat

intake to no more than 5 percent of your daily calories and increasing your

consumption of omega-3 fatty acids, especially from fish.

 

Minimize your consumption of refined carbohydrates, eat more oat bran and other

foods containing soluble fiber as well as plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables,

soy foods and other legumes. Drink green tea regularly and eat garlic, hot red

pepper (chile) and shiitake mushrooms frequently.

 

While Smart Balance may be better than most margarine – if you adhere to the

specified " balance " of fats in the rest of your diet – my views about margarine

remain unchanged. It is still fat, mostly unhealthy fat, and a highly processed

food. The less processed food you eat, the better. If your bread requires a

spread, consider switching to some delicious, fresh bread that needs no help

from added fat. Or try a little seasoned, mashed avocado or a light dribble of

olive oil. Create low-fat toppings for your potatoes and other vegetables. And

when you crave a bit of butter, use the real thing.

 

Dr. Andrew Weil

www.drweil.com

_________________

 

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