Complete strangers debate the issue in supermarket dairy aisles across the country.
Typically, the harder or more solid the margarine, the more trans and saturated fats it has. Trans fats occur naturally in beef, butter, and milk. Both saturated fat and trans fats have been shown to raise blood cholesterol. BUT it's believed that trans fats don't raise your cholesterol as much as saturated fat. Since most healthy Americans over the age of two should be eating a diet low in fat, saturated fat, and dietary cholesterol, it's better to use margarine than butter.