Margarine causes Cancer??

[Bunny Hugger]

Okay... so I was in the car today with my mom after I went to the dentist :|

and we were talking about what we were gonna buy for our vegan thanksgiving and I said "(vegan) margarine"

and then she goes "Margarine causes CANCER!!"

I said "No it dosent."

she said "Yes it dose!!"

I said "where did you get that from"

she said "I know I just know!"

then she kept talking about how "Butter is the BEST!!!"

(shes' a nurse, she works at a hospital)

yes I know stupid question.........and I feel so dumb asking this..

So dose margarine cause cancer?

[Foxy]

There has been a link between hydrogenated and trans fats and many types of cancer.

[spehlbaund]

Yeah my mom says "never get anything with hydrogenated oils in it!" Do all margarines have hydrogenated oils.. so far those are the only ones I've seen anyway..

[Foxy]

Then again, the air we breathe is full of poisons too! What to do? I say do the best you can with what you *can* control/influence and try not to become too worried about things you can't control.

I don't eat margarine, personally. :)

[Foxy]

Earth Balance and Earth Balance Whipped (this one is organic and better for ya!) aren't hydrogenated and there are a few more.

[spehlbaund]

Yeah, Earth Balance is the one I usually hear people recommend... I guess it really must be the best one.

[kristadb]

Everything causes cancer.

[Walter]

I'm sure her story is linked to hydrogenation. I've read somewhere that it's "four times worse than saturated fat" -- whatever that means. I avoid it as much as possible (save "Better Than Cream Cheese" splurges.)

[Recycler]

There are many margarines out there without hydrogenated oils and these margarines are certainly much healthier than butter. Still, the majority of margarines do contain hydrogenated oils, which are a source of transfatty acids, which are worse than the saturated fat from butter. This is the first time I ever heard of transfatty acids causing cancer. Can someone provide more information on this? I thought the link was to heart disease, due to increased bad cholesterol production by the body, not cancer???

[revelsunrise]

Everything causes cancer.

I was just about to say that! :yes:

[Foxy]

This is the first time I ever heard of transfatty acids causing cancer. Can someone provide more information on this? I thought the link was to heart disease, due to increased bad cholesterol production by the body, not cancer???



I have read that consumption of trans and hydrogenated fats is linked to an increase in cancer of the bowel. But, like it has been said, nothing is really "safe" and simply avoiding what is not the healthiest and doing what you can without worrying about it is the best approach.

[rincaro]

I avoid it as much as possible (save "Better Than Cream Cheese" splurges.)

Toffutti now has a non-hydrogenated version of this and the sour supreme. They only sell them at the HFS in my neighborhood though. The regular grocery store has the versions with "gunk" in them as my kids so aptly named it.

[Bunny Hugger]

Awsome!

Thanks guys, my mom bought earth balance "butter spread" at the store today

[Thalia]

Awsome!

Thanks guys, my mom bought earth balance "butter spread" at the store today
Be careful, don't get addicted to it, it's very good!

[MollyGoat]

Not everythings....

Yeah, just eat the Earth Balance in moderation and you'll be fine. It is addictive though :)

Hydrogenated oils have other horrible properties besides being carcinogenic. I avoid them except for the occasional french-fry-and-spring-roll binge.