1. Soft spread margarines, often referred to as spreads margarines, are made from natural, plant-based oils derived from the same natural oils found in nuts, seeds, and some vegetables.
2. The 2010 Dietary Guidelines encourage consumers to choose soft spread margarines.
3. In recent decades, soft spread margarine brands have phased out the use of hydrogenated oils and are now considered free of Trans fats.
4. Vegetable oils, and foods made from vegetable oils like soft spread margarine, are an excellent source of unsaturated fats, particularly polyunsaturated fats. Unsaturated fats (often referred to as “good” fats) have been shown to reduce inflammation and lower blood cholesterol levels.
5. Ten scientific studies have directly evaluated and approved the health benefits of soft spread margarine.
6. Soft spread margarine has 2 grams or less saturated fat per serving and no cholesterol.
7. Most soft spread margarines contain 25-60 percent fewer calories than butter. While a savings of 25 calories per serving may seem small, making that daily substitution could result in a 2.5 pound weight loss over a year’s time.
8. Soft spread margarines are fortified with vitamins A and D which are important for vision, growth and reproduction, and strong bones and teeth.
9. Margarine is a great source of vitamin E, an antioxidant which has been shown to protect against coronary disease and reduce the formation of “bad” cholesterol known as LDL.

Cooking and baking tips,

1. Margarine can be used almost anywhere in recipes where edible oil is specified. Spread margarines are not recommended for baked goods that require precise amounts of fat and moisture, such as pastry crusts, unless a recipe has been developed specifically for that purpose. Margarines also work well for most cooking applications, including sautéing, in addition to topping and spreading.

Reference: www.imace.org