While many assume that butter and margarine are practically the same, there are some key differences between the two that can dramatically affect your food.

Our tasters liked Brummel & Brown 35% Vegetable Oil Spread (which contains partially hydrogenated soybean oil) and I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Light (which has palm and palm kernel oils).

Margarine is a highly processed food made by combining water and vegetable oils and usually containing emulsifiers, preservatives, additives, artificial colourings and flavourings and salt.

The study found that consuming olive oil (7 grams per day) was associated with reduced weight gain while consuming equal amounts of margarine, vegetable oils, or butter resulted in weight gain.