Margarine is loaded with transfatty acids, a type of fat formed when vegetable oils are processed to make them solid at room temperature. Research associates a diet high in transfats with an increased risk of heart disease. In fact, some scientists, such as Dr. Alberto Ascherio of the Harvard School of Public Health, contend transfats endanger your heart more than the artery-clogging saturated fat found in bacon, butter and lard. If transfats were replaced by unsaturated vegetable oils, we would expect to see at least 30,000 fewer people die prematurely of heart disease each year. Dipping your bread into seasoned olive oil isn't just trendy, it's healthful.
Olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fats, a type associated with a lower risk of heart disease.
Read the labels. Then buy something else. If you do use margarine, choose a soft type instead of a stick. Smart Beat and Promise are two brands low in transfats. Everybody has smoke alarms, but most of us don't take them seriously enough for them to do us any good in a real emergency.