Wanna Be a Steader!

What is Margarine?

A new Homesteadblogger ~ Promisedland ~ posted this information and I thought it was VERY good info to know. 

By the way...she is a nw blogger but I've enjoyed all of her posts.  Do yourself a favor and take a look!  http://www.homesteadblogger.com/promisedland.

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

Did you ever wonder how margarine is made?  You know, the stuff that’s supposed to taste like butter and be healthier for you?  I couldn’t help wondering because if it’s not butter, then what is it?  This is what I found:

First, margarine is made from vegetable oil.  Along with using high pressure and high temperature to remove the oil, hexane is used to remove the last bit.  Hexane is a carcinogen (causes cancer), and is mostly removed later on, but trace amounts remain.

Second, the oils are steam cleaned.  This kills any bacteria, but also destroys any vitamins and anti-oxidants that were in the oils.

Third, the oils are then mixed with finely ground nickel, which acts as a catalyst for the hydrogenation process.  Nickel is also a carcinogen.

Fourth, the oils are again put under high temperature and pressure, and hydrogen gas is introduced.  The hydrogen atoms are forced into the oils.  This turns the oils from a liquid into a semi-solid.  This semi-solid pretty much takes the form of a grey greasy substance.  Emulsifiers are added to remove any lumps.

Fifth, the grey grease is steam cleaned again, and bleached to turn it white (after all, who wants to eat grey margarine?). 

Because you now have a lump of stuff that has practically no nutritional value or taste, synthetic vitamins and artificial flavors are added.  A natural yellow color is added to make it look like butter.  Until the 1950s, margarine had to be white so people wouldn’t mix them up.  Now people don’t know the difference.

So which would you choose…a bleached, colored, artificially flavored greasy lump…or….nice fresh, lightly salted butter right from the cow?  I know what I’d choose.  In fact, I don’t know if I can ever eat margarine again.  Yuck!

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03:21, 2008-Apr-9 .. Posted by gabbie427

Gross huh?? Thanks for posting this. When we started looking up and researchign the foods that were good for us and trying to eat more whole and natural foods, we were also amazed at how nasty margarine is!!! My husband calls it plastic butter. LOL

Thanks for sharing!!!

God's Blessings,
Amy Jo

Little Woman

07:17, 2008-Apr-11 .. Posted by littlewoman

I want the real butter!!!
Sarah

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11:33, 2008-Apr-11 .. Posted by Schatzi

Oh my goodness I had no idea....I do not use margarine very often, but sometimes I do....I will not be using it any longer.

Thanks for letting us all know.

Connie

wow

03:54, 2008-Apr-13 .. Posted by afarmgirl

this is horrible~! I am gonna do the big switch back to butter!!!