Smart Balance Margarine Review

I love butter!  I love eating it on some toasted bread and I love cooking with it.  There's nothing like sauteing shrimp in butter.

But then, butter is high in saturated fats.  In fact of the 11 grams of fat in a tablespoon of butter, 7 grams, or nearly 2/3's are saturated.  Not good.  Not good at all.

In the 1950's, margarine became a popular substitute for butter.  Saturated fat was largely replaced with polyunsaturated fat.  Made primarily from vegetable oils it was thought to be the healthy alternative.  No one seemed to understand that the need to hydrogenate the vegetable oils in order to solidity them might have any ill effects.  Of course we didn't know about trans fats in those days.  Common margarines were just loaded with them and apparently a good portion of the medical/nutritional community now feel that maybe butter was the better of the two alternatives.

But besides, I've never tasted a margarine that could really take the place of butter. These taste-buds can tell the difference.

Smart Balance Buttery Spread

A few years ago along came Smart Balance Buttery Spread.  A non-hygrogenated blend of plant based oils rich in Omega 3 fatty acids and plant sterols, it claimed not only to be less harmful than butter or margarines but actually good for your heart health.  It lowers LDLs, raises HDLs and lowers your triglycerides.  What could be bad?

The Taste?

How does it taste?  Manufacturers have known for years that they can engineer healthier foods.  But frankly if they don't taste good, they plain don't sell.  End of story.

Well, the good news here is that Smart Balance Buttery Spread tastes great.  It tastes like butter.  It spreads like butter.  It even cooks and bakes like butter.  If you haven't tried it, I suggest you do.  It's that good.

Corroboration

It's one thing for manufacturers to make claims for their products.  Heck, Camel cigarettes used to claim their product was endorsed by doctors to calm your nerves.  But, in the case of Smart Balance Buttery Spread, nutritional researchers at Brandeis University endorse this product.

My Viewpoint

This is a buttery spread that will have you believe that you're really eating butter.  And while you're eating it you'll be doing your heart a favor.  It is very widely available in supermarkets nationwide.  I recommend it highly.

Good eating,

Rudi