Margarine vs Butter vs What the Heck??

Anyone ever have just coffee (or tea) and toast for breakfast? I like to spread my toast with some butter and fruit spread, most of the time.

Since becoming The Savvy Survivor, a niece of mine forwarded some information on the differences between margarine and butter, and said she hoped I could use this info in one of my blogs. So, here it is!

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Margarine was originally manufactured to fatten turkeys. When it killed the turkeys, the people who had put all the money into the research wanted a payback so they put their heads together to figure out what to do with this product to get their money back.

It was a white substance with no food appeal so they added the yellow colouring and sold it to people to use in place of butter. How do you like it? They have come out with some clever new flavourings....

DO YOU KNOW.. The difference between margarine and butter?

Read on to the end...gets very interesting!

Both have the same amount of calories.
Butter is slightly higher in saturated fats at 8 grams; compared to 5 grams for margarine.

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 and only because they are added!

Butter tastes much better than margarine and it can enhance the flavours of other foods.

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.

Triples risk of coronary heart disease ...

Increases total cholesterol and LDL (this is the bad cholesterol) and lowers HDL cholesterol, (the good cholesterol)

Increases the risk of cancers up to five times..

Lowers quality of breast milk

Decreases immune response.

Decreases insulin response.

And here's the most disturbing fact... HERE IS THE PART THAT IS VERY INTERESTING!

Margarine is but ONE MOLECULE away from being PLASTIC... and shares 27 ingredients with PAINT.

These facts alone were 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).

Open a tub of margarine and leave it open in your garage or shaded area. Within a couple of days you will notice 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 because it has no nutritional value ; nothing will grow on it. Even those teeny weeny microorganisms will not a 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.....(If you want to butter them up')!

Chinese Proverb:
When someone shares something of value with you and you benefit from it, you have a moral obligation to share it with others. 

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And now....a comparison of ingredients between some of the nations leading margarines, butter, and stuff I call "What the heck??" Those are supposed to be good for us, because of key ingredients...but they're really no better than margarine.

 Country Crock Margarine...  

Ingredients (16):

Vegetable(s) Oil Blend (Soybean(s) Oil Liquid, Soybean(s) Oil Partially Hydrogenated, Cottonseed Oil Hydrogenated) , Water, Salt, Soy Lecithin (Potassium Sorbate, Calcium Disodium EDTA Used to protect quality) , Whey (Milk) , Vegetable(s) Mono and Diglycerides, Flavor(s) Artificial, Beta Carotene color(s), Citric Acid, Vitamin A Palmitate

Right off the bat, I can't eat this....soybean oil; and anything that's "partially hydrogenated" or "hydrogenated" is a Trans fat...and WILL clog your arteries! Mono- and Diglycerides are emulsifiers...and another trans fat! Artificial flavors...what??? Artificial flavors from....where? Too vague for me! There are also hidden sources of MSG, in this product...do your homework!

Blue Bonnet Margarine...

Ingredients (15):

Water, Soybean(s) Oil Liquid, Soybean(s) Oil Partially Hydrogenated, Salt, Whey, Vegetable(s) Monoglycerides, Soy Lecithin, Propylene Glycol Monostearate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Calcium Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Flavor(s) Natural & Artificial, Vitamin A Palmitate, Beta Carotene color(s)

Again...soybean oil, and it's partially hydrogenated, too! Ok, wait...there's what in this stuff?? Does that say "Propylene Glycol Monostearate"?? Folks...that's an emulsifying agent found in cosmetics and personal care products!! Ewww!!

EDTA is short for Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (and I'm not even going to attempt to pronounce that! LOL!) Calcium Disodium EDTA is made from poisons and chelation chemicals; you can read all about this wonderful ingredient, here. And, again with the vague terms....natural & artificial flavors.

Next....

The folks on the Benecol website tout this as containing "a plant-derived ingredient that actually lowers your cholesterol" It even brags about it, on the package!

LIES!!! Read the ingredients...

Ingredients (15):

Canola Oil Liquid, Water, Soybean(s) Oil Partially Hydrogenated, Plant Sterol Esters, Salt, Emulsifier(s) (Vegetable(s) Mono and Diglycerides, Soy Lecithin) , Soybean(s) Oil Hydrogenated, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid and Calcium Disodium EDTA To Preserve Freshness, Flavor(s) Artificial, Di Alpha Tocopherol Acetate, Vitamin A Palmitate, Colored With Beta Carotene

Do you see it?? Hydrogenated, and partially hydrogenated ANYTHING will increase your cholesterol...not lower it!!

Add that to all our other "favorite" ingredients, and I'd say this one goes on the "Ain't Happening" list, as well! LOL!

And, here we have butter....

Ingredients (2):

Cream Sweet Pasteurized, Salt

Well....finally! Ingredients I can pronounce; and, I know where they come from, too...no need for research, here! I think we have a winner, folks!!

Here's a few more brands of butter, with only those two ingredients...

I've never heard of this brand, but I thought the package was lovely!

Butter really is the best choice! As always, I will encourage you to investigate in order to find quality butter made from the milk of grass-fed animals; that's the best quality, and most nutrient dense, of all creamery butters.

And now...my "What the heck??" moment. This next product is touted as being super beneficial, because it's mixed with extra virgin olive oil; that's not the only thing it's mixed with...

Ingredients (17):

Butter Blend of Natural Vegetable Oils (Palm Fruit, Soybean(s), Flax Seed, Olive Oil Extra Virgin) , Water, Fish Oil, Contains less than 22% of Salt, Soybean(s) Lecithin, Flavor(s) Natural, Whey, Lactic Acid, Vegetable(s) Monoglycerides, Sorbitan Ester of Fatty Acids, Di Alpha Tocopherol Acetate, Vitamin A Palmitate, Beta Carotene

Natural Vegetable Oils....like soybean oil (can't do it!); flax seed oil is good and there's water in this. Wait...do I see what I think I see?? FISH OIL??? Now, fish oil is very good for you...but what's doing in a vegetable oil blend? Oh my!

Ok, moving on....more soy (soybeans and lecithin), natural flavors (still waiting for someone to tell me where these come from); monoglycerides...ok...don't let the "vegetable" notion fool you, folks, it's still bad news!!

Sorbitan Ester of Fatty Acids....used as a surfactant, an emulsifier, a buffering agent, a defoaming agent, a synthetic flavoring, a stabilizer and a lubricant. Ok...back up!! A defoaming agent?? I think I've just lot my appetite!! At least I now have a better idea of where "natural & artificial flavors" come from! LOL!! Here's some more info for ya!

I also understand why they used that in this product...water and oil don't mix, unless you force them to; hence, the need for a stabilizer/emulsifier.

Personally, I don't care how good vegetable spreads, margarine, and "blends" taste...pass the BUTTER, please!!

And, have a blessed day!! oxoxox

Soy – Dynamic, or Destructive?

There are a host of sites out there that will brag about the health benefits of soy; this product has been around for almost 5,000 years.

Nowadays, soy can be found in practically everything packaged, boxed, or canned, at the grocery store (even in the organic stuff!). If you're traveling through the inner aisles of the grocery store, chances are, you're purchasing something that has a soy product in it.

Soy has been touted as a beneficially healthy meatless protein source, because it’s a complete protein; I've read that it can also lower your cholesterol (low in saturated and trans fats), and may reduce your risk of heart disease. It’s even been said that it can help menopausal women, because it has phytoestrogens.

Here’s what else I've learned about its benefits -

• Good source of iron
• Reduced risk of certain cancers
• Protective benefit to cancer survivors
• Great alternative to cow’s milk

The recommended daily intake of soy is 25g per day. With all these benefits, it doesn't seem like that big of a deal, does it? Well, it probably wouldn't be, if it weren't for a few things we’re not being told.

The link I just gave you (click on the highlighted word “benefits”), is a website sponsored by Silk, whose parent company is Dean Foods. Dean Foods spent $253,000 in the cause to defeat Prop 37; kind of signals a red flag that the soy they peddle is GMO soy, doesn't it? Not only that…but we, the average consumer, don’t eat just 25g of soy a day. Remember, I said soy is found in practically everything packaged, bottled, or canned?

Read your labels...soy lecithin, soybean oil, and soy flour are all in our packaged, boxed and canned foods. Some of these may be, as well. Always read the labels!!

We, unfortunately, are eating WAAAAAAAY more than 25g, on a daily basis! And, you know what they say…too much of a good thing, is a bad idea!

Let me show you what Dr. Brownstein says about soy….this is an excerpt from one of his Newsletters:

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“I wrote about soy in both the December 2008 and November 2011 issues of Natural Way to Health. Soy is a type of plant called a legume – a category that also includes peas, beans, lentils and peanuts. And like other legumes, soy has been touted as a healthy food.

I can assure you that the vast majority of soy food sources are not healthy products. In fact, most soy products cause a myriad of health issues, including thyroid problems and deficiencies in many vitamins and minerals.

Then why is soy promoted as such a healthy food? For one thing, it is incredibly cheap to grow, so it is added to many products to increase volume. There are estimates that the food industry has added soy to more than 50 percent of supermarket food products. The vast majority of these products should be avoided.

Soy can be processed as a fermented or non-fermented product. Fermented soy is produced by using bacteria to break down the soy. Examples of fermented soy include miso, natto, tempeh, and fermented soy sauce.

The fermented forms of soy can be eaten in small amounts without causing nutrient deficiencies, or thyroid problems.

Non-fermented soy products, on the other hand, contain anti-thyroid agents and enzymes that block the absorption of many vitamins and minerals. Soy in its natural form contains protease inhibitors. Protease enzymes, such as trypsin, are used by the body to break down protein into amino acids. Amino acids are used to maintain muscle tone and bone strength.

Soy is one of the most potent trypsin inhibitors known to science. Animal studies have shown that trypsin inhibition results in illnesses of the pancreas as well as cancer. Examples of non-fermented soy products include soy milk, soy-based meat substitutes, soybean oil, tofu, and many kinds of spreads with soy in them.

Non-fermented soy use leads to hypothyroidism as well as autoimmune thyroid problems such as Hashimoto’s disease and Graves’ disease.

I have seen many patients develop thyroid problems due to soy ingestion. And it is nearly impossible to rectify thyroid problems in patients who continue to eat soy as a major protein source.”

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Ever hear of hexane? It’s a neurotoxin used to process soy milk. And you may not see the words “USDA Organic on soy products anymore…it’s not required. Hexane-processed soy milk can still be labeled “natural” or “made with organic ingredients” if there are any ingredients that were grown organically; regardless of how they’re processed.

Dr. Mercola is another voice of reason that I completely trust, when it comes to honest healthy lifestyle advice. His website as an article focused on soy; click here to read it.

To gain the benefits of soy, without consuming any, you can eat foods from these sites:

Balancing Hormones (the numbering system is a bit confusing, but this is a great list!)

Meatless Sources of Protein (#3, #6 and #9 mention soy products…we already know that’s not an option!)

Meatless Sources of Iron (this one also mentions soy, but there are a LOT more foods to choose from!)

Cholesterol Lowering Foods (soy alert!! Choose the other options!)

Cancer Fighting Foods (it’s an alphabetized list...skip over the soy!)

Alternatives to Cow's Milk (soy milk is mentioned first, but we won’t hold it against them! LOL!)

My own Oncologist even told me to avoid soy, since I was diagnosed with Estrogen-receptive Breast Cancer! Considering how much of our packaged foods have soy in them, it's not an easy task!

Soy is also used in products we don’t eat, so be mindful of labels on all your inedible products, too (body wash, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, make up, etc.); it can still infiltrate your system, through your skin!

Considering all the possible ways soy can get into our bodies, it's frightening to think that it could cause an estrogen overload, in all of us, if we're not aware! Let me know if you have any more ideas for improving the overall condition of the body, without the use of soy products!

Have a great day, and be blessed! oxoxox

Living the Experience

By now, I'm sure you've all caught up on my story...diagnosed with Stage 4 Breast Cancer, last year....living every moment of my life trying to outsmart the Grim Reaper. So, far....it's working!! Yay!!

I thought it might be fun to share one of my recipes with you! I chose this one, because I'm totally addicted to Asian cuisine...and can't eat it anymore, because of the soy. Boo!! My sister actually came up with this idea, and it works sooooo well! LOL!!

Enjoy this recipe for "Garlic and Ginger Infused Fried Rice"....(I don't use measurements....the ginger and garlic are "to taste".)

Frozen Mixed Veggies

 

 

Long-grain Brown Rice

 

 

 

 

Minced Garlic

 

 

 

Ground Ginger

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cage-Free Eggs

 

 

 

Ok, here's what you do....

 

 

First, you scramble a couple of eggs, and set them aside. Then you cook the rice, and heat up the frozen veggies (drain off the water, when they're fully heated). After they're done, you put everything in a frying pan; add the ginger and garlic (to taste), and heat through, in some extra virgin olive oil (I don't measure that, either!).

 

 

 

 

This tastes exactly like take-out!! And, is a very versatile recipe...you can make it with any veggie combo you like!

 

Always try to use non-GMO ingredients...and always, always use organic! Cage-free eggs are the best...currently, I'm on the lookout for grass fed/grass finished eggs, and will let you know, when I find them!

 

Let me know what you think, after you've given this a taste test!

 

 

 

Update on Progress

I've had a couple "update" appointments with my Oncologist, recently...things are progressing quite well!

My first update was a full-body bone scan; had to do that, because my spine was full of tumors, so he wanted to see if any of them were gone, yet. The second update was a CT Scan, to see if any vital organs were affected, and to check the size of the mass in my left breast, as well as the size of my lymph nodes in my left armpit.

Results of the bone scan - I have a touch of arthritis in my knees, hips and shoulders; and most of the tumors down my spine are either gone, or significantly reduced in size. One of them has become larger, but my Oncologist doesn't seem too concerned about that, just yet.

Results of the CT Scan - I have a few cysts in my woman parts and my liver (not to worry, he says), and I have a few gallstones (also no worries, at this time). None of my vital organs were damaged, nor are they showing any signs of tumors! Yay!! And, my lymph nodes in my left armpit have significantly reduced in size, and so has the mass in my left breast!! Praise God, it's ALMOST gone!! I am continuing to stand on Scripture for my healing!!

So...what's the game plan now?? Continue taking Tamoxifen (once a day), eating properly (loads of fresh veggies and fruit, not so much processed stuff...and NO soy!!), and exercising (Physical Therapy - 3 times a week).

I love my life!!