Do you know someone who would benefit from the information in this Update? Please share this information with a friend by forwarding my Update to them.
To review Dr. McNabb's privacy policy, please click here
Welcome
to your home on the
web
|
 James McNabb, M.D., C.N. |
Butter is Better
I hear lots of confusing information concerning butter, margarine, and even so called healthy spreads. What are we to believe? Is butter bad for us or good for us?
Butter's Not Bad
The French eat more butter and creams than we do, yet have lower rates of cardiovascular disease. So, clearly something is wrong with the advice that butter is bad for us.
Bad News About Hydrogenation
Let’s look at hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated vegetables oils. This process takes liquid vegetable oil, heats it to high temperatures, and bubbles hydrogen gas through it. It converts the liquid oil to a more solid form. It does make the oils more stable and less likely to turn rancid. Manufactures of many food products from candy bars to cake mixes use these hydrogenated oils. Hydrogenation changes the shape of oils from their natural curved configuration called cis fatty acids, to straight molecules called trans fatty acids. These are taken up and used by the body, but because they are no longer normal, they alter many normal functions of the body as well. An analogy I like to use is trying to build a house out of crooked 2 X 4’s. You might get your house built, but you will not like the result.
Virtually every scientific study has demonstrated the harmful effects of trans fatty acids. The FDA is soon going to require food manufactures to label their products with their trans fatty acid content. This is coming none to soon. I have already heard that manufactures are scrambling to remove these from their products so that they will not have to list them.
Butter it Up!
The bottom-line is to start using butter again. It does not have harmful trans fatty acids and it tastes better anyway.
Disclaimer:
This site and its services are for consumer educational use only. Nothing
contained in this site is or should be considered, or used as a substitute for,
medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. We advise users to always seek the
advice of a physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions
regarding personal health or medical conditions. Never disregard, avoid or delay
in obtaining medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care
provider because of something you have read on this site. If you have or suspect
that you have a medical problem or condition, please contact a qualified health
care professional immediately.
Optimum Nutrition: Nutrition Information and Nutritional Products from Physician-Nutrition.com