A shocking new study in the scientific journal Chemical Research found that an ingredient in margarine intensifies the damaging effect of an abnormal brain protein linked to Alzheimer's. The ingredient is called diacetyl, and it is also commonly used in microwave popcorn, candies, and baked goods. Since margarine has already fallen out of favor among health experts in recent years, should we eliminate it completely from our diets?

"From my perspective as a wellness and prevention doctor, I have to tell you that this is another nail in the coffin of margarine," says nutrition and wellness expert Dr. Erika Schwartz. "We all were raised on margarine. We thought margarine was great for us."
But the more we learned how to read labels and the more we learned about chemicals that you could not pronounce — like diacetyl, says Dr. Schwartz, the more we learn to stay away from them.
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"There are a lot better ways to eat foods that are healthier than those that contain chemicals."
"The interesting thing is we started with butter and then switched to margarine thinking we were doing better because butter had too much fat." But, she says, recent studies show that butter is a better alternative than margarine.
"At the end of the day, though, olive oil is the best alternative because it's healthier. It's vegetable, and it doesn't have any chemicals in it.
What about butter-flavored popcorn? Should we give it up, or just eat it in moderation? "I believe in moderation in everything, but I think if we know something is not good for you, I think it's best to make that moderation less rather than more.
"The popcorn itself doesn't have diacetyl," reminds Dr. Schwartz. "It's when we start popping it and putting stuff in it. There is pure corn for popping that doesn't have anything in it. Read the labels!"
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