What are your thoughts on margarine, light margarine or butter?  I also have high cholesterol, and am taking a statin.

Thank you!

The American Heart Association recommends a diet low in saturated fat, no trans fat, low in cholesterol and low in sodium, specially for people with high cholesterol levels.  I will recommend using a margarine or a light margarine that has 0 trans fat instead of butter, which has some cholesterol and saturated fat.  I will encourage you to read food labels of all your favorite foods so you can make sure they are low in cholesterol, low in saturated fats, low in sodium and 0 trans fats.  Hope this helps.

Let us know if you have any further questions,

Sylvia Melendez-Klinger, MS, RD, LDN, CPT - registered dietitian

 Dawn,

I use the Light "I Can't Believe it's not Butter'. 1/2 TBS = Cal. 25, Fat 2.5, Sat. Fat .5, Sodium 42.5,, Vit A 5.

It tastes the closest to butter that I have tried. I only use butter for baked potatoes and toast. It is very difficult to cook with this butter (it sticks), I use Pam for cooking or extra virgin olive oil.

Hope this helps you a bit.

 Thanks Debbie.  Unfortunately, I love to bake.  I read so many mixed reviews on margarine or butter.  I usually use a light stick margarine to bake, but then I read that that isn't the way to go either.  It's so confusing.  I should just give up the baking, but for me it's therapeutic!

 Hi Debbie,

I think you made a good choice :)

 Just try to keep your fat intake within target recommendations.  Also, I will encourage you to vary your healthy fats - no more than 2 to 3 teaspoons of light margarine per day so you can include other healthy fats.  Here are a few samples below:

4 almonds or walnuts = 4 grams fat, 44 calories

1/4 cup cubed avocado = 5.5 grams fat, 60 calories

1 cup 1% low fat milk = 2.4 grams fat, 102 calories

1 cup Low fat fruit yogurt = 2.5 grams fat, 240 calories

1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter = 8 grams fat, 100 calories

4 oz. Salmon Chinook fillet, broiled = 15 grams fat, 252 calories

Keep up the good work!

Sylvia Melendez-Klinger, MS, RD, LDN, CPT - registered dietitian

Sylvia.......Oh I certainly get that..lol. I may use the ICBINB maybe once or twice per week. I usually have 1/2 tbs Peanut butter on a ww english muffin 3 mornings a week and ohter days, cereal with whole milk to add my fat for that meal. Also low fat yogart for mid day snack. And for ice cream....well WW Sherbert bars are the way to go at night. They are like popcycles, but soft like sherbert with vanilla ice cream in the center. The box has 3 flavors, Strawberry, passion fruit, and key lime. Serv size is 2 bars, but I only eat 1. Cal. 60, fat .5 chol. 2.5gm sod. 20mg potassium 40 mg, Carb 13g Sugar 10g per bar. Oh how this satisfies the craving...mmm.

Dawn....I have to give you credit...lol. Baking...?? I would certainly give into too many cravings (love sweets). But I am sure there are some recipes out there that have low fat substitutions.. Best of luck and enjoy.....

 I am going to try the WW sherbet bars - they sound so good - I can eat one right now :)

Thanks for sharing,

Sylvia Melendez-Klinger, MS, RD, LDN, CPT - registered dietitian