Jessica is a registered dietitian through the American Dietetics Association. She earned a Master of Science degree from Illinois State University. She has over 4 years of clinical dietetics experience working with patients with diabetes, heart disease, and other nutrition related conditions. She currently is an assistant professor of nutrition and dietetics at a university in Wisconsin.
Butter and margarine contain fat. Foods that contain fat are higher in calories than foods that do not contain fat. Margarine is very high in trans fat and trans fat should make up less than 1% of your total calorie intake (it is also found in cakes, cookies, most of your baked goods). Trans fat has been shown to increase heart disease, risk of cancer and others. Butter is mainly saturated fat and although trans fat is the #1 worst fat for you, saturated fat is #2. Saturated fat should not make up more than 7% of your total daily intake. Diets high in saturated fat can also lead to heart disease and increase risk for cancer. Saturated fat is the fat found in milk, meat, and other animal products. Using a butter or margarine replacement that is high in unsaturated fat and plant sterols or stanols would be the best choice. Look at food labels for products that contain these ingredients.
With Valentine’s Day coming up, there is chocolate everywhere. Milk chocolate, caramel filled chocolate, and dark chocolate, just to name a few. So what type should you eat? Well…of course by taste, but what kind tastes good and is good for you? You have all heard that dark chocolate is good for you and contains antioxidants. What are antioxidants? And what makes dark chocolate better than the other kind? Antioxidants are nutrients in our food that can slow or prevent the oxidative damage to our bodies. Our body produces free radicals when it uses oxygen. Free radicals can be damaging to our body. Antioxidants act as “free radical scavengers” and can help against the damage and repair some of the damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals can contribute to heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Foods that contain antioxidants, such as dark chocolate, can help prevent against these diseases. This is why dark chocolate is better for you than milk chocolate. Remember…dark chocolate still contains fat and calories and although it is better for you, keep in mind moderation.