I remember back in the 1950s, most housewives switched to margarine, it was heavily promoted on TV.
It was very cheap compared to butter. We had the package with white lard like stuff and the red coloring dot which we squeezed until it was yellow.
In Wisconsin where I grew up, margarine was banned for many years. People had to drive down to Iowa to buy it where it was cheaper. I remember they even had a little coloring cube which my mother used to mix in with the margarine to give a butter color. I’ve always hated the taste of margarine.
I'll tell you how far back I go.
I remember my mother handing me the bag, yes bag of white oleo (looked like Crisco) and letting me knead the yellow color tab into the mix.
We've used real butter for years.
A really good book..' Life Extension: A Practical Scientific Approach ' by Durk Pearson and Sandy Shaw. Written in 1982, way ahead of its time.
He promoted the antioxidant theory, minoxidil (Rogaine), and other health issues way before they became mainstream.
He promoted animal fats over vegetable fats for the primary reason that when animal fats start to go rancid (oxidize) you can detect it with your nose at 10 % or less rancid.
Vegetable fats, 30 % or more before you detect it.
Oxidation of body chemicals being the main cause of aging, according to his book, avoiding rancid foods is of primary importance.
He promoted massive doses of antioxidants, vit. C, D, E and others.