Choose Soft, Trans-Fat Free Margarine Over Butter, Says the National Cholesterol Education Program as part of National Cholesterol Education Month in September
For a heart-healthy diet, choose soft, trans-fat free margarine, says the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) as part of its education materials focused on National Cholesterol Education Month (September). The 2005 Cholesterol Month theme, "Know your cholesterol numbers, know your risk" emphasizes two of NCEPÂ’s cholesterol guidelines: the importance of having your cholesterol measured and knowing your risk of developing heart disease.
Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) September 15, 2005
Confused by the margarine/butter debate?
For a heart-healthy diet, choose soft, trans-fat free margarine, says the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) as part of its education materials focused on National Cholesterol Education Month (September). The 2005 Cholesterol Month theme, "Know your cholesterol numbers, know your risk" emphasizes two of NCEPÂ’s cholesterol guidelines: the importance of having your cholesterol measured and knowing your risk of developing heart disease, says NCEP.
NCEP confirms that "research has clearly shown that lowering cholesterol can reduce the risk of developing heart disease" with diet and lifestyle being key.
In an effort to help educate consumers about the role dietary fat/cholesterol play in maintaining healthy blood cholesterol levels, several Q and AÂ’s on NCEPÂ’s Cholesterol Month website can help http://hin. nhlbi. nih. gov/cholmonth/q_a. htm (http://hin. nhlbi. nih. gov/cholmonth/q_a. htm), and include the following:
What do saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol in foods have to do with heart disease?
Saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol in the diet all raises the level of LDL "bad" cholesterol in the blood. The higher the LDL cholesterol, the greater the risk for coronary heart disease (CHD), the main form of heart disease and a leading cause of death, illness, and disability in the United States. Saturated fat and trans fat raise LDL similarly, but Americans consume 4-5 times as much saturated fat as trans fat. Saturated fat is the chief dietary culprit that raises LDL, but consumers need to know about all three - saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol - in the foods they eat to reduce their risk for CHD and stay heart-healthy.
Is it better to eat butter instead of margarine to avoid trans fat?
No. The combined amount of saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol in butter is usually higher than in margarine, even though some margarines contain more trans fat than butter. There are margarines available that contain no trans fat. Soft (tub) or liquid margarine usually contains less trans fat than hard (stick) margarine and less saturated fat and cholesterol than butter.
Additional tips from NCEP can be found at: http://hin. nhlbi. nih. gov/cholmonth/tips. htm (http://hin. nhlbi. nih. gov/cholmonth/tips. htm).
For more information on the health benefits of choosing margarine spreads over butter, go to: http://www. margarine. org (http://www. margarine. org).
Note to Editors: The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) launched the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) in November 1985. The goal of the NCEP is to contribute to reducing illness and death from coronary heart disease (CHD) in the United States by reducing the percent of Americans with high blood cholesterol. Through educational efforts directed at health professionals and the public, the NCEP aims to raise awareness and understanding about high blood cholesterol as a risk factor for CHD and the benefits of lowering cholesterol levels as a means of preventing CHD.
# # #
