Question: Which is better for you butter or margarine and why? Tammy

Answer: Dear Tammy,

Butter contains dietary cholesterol and saturated fat, two ingredients that raise cholesterol levels. Dietary cholesterol is only found in animal byproducts so it is not present in margarine.

On the other hand, margarine is high in trans fats produced when hydrogen is added to the oils used to make it. Trans fats also increase bad cholesterol, like saturated fats and they also lower good cholesterol levels.

Some margarines are manufactured with water or liquid vegetables oils instead of partially hydrogenated oils, which makes them better than butter because they are free of trans fats.

Margarine brands with trans fats are as bad as butter with high levels of saturated fats.