This infection is one of the most common causes of death worldwide
According to a study recently published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine, there is very little evidence to support popular claims that butter is a healthy fat. This idea has been all over social media over the last few years, but new research suggests that, in fact, plant oils are the healthier option.
Curious? Check out this gallery to find out more.
For the past few years, social media has been awash with influencers claiming that butter is a healthy fat.
For example, in an Instagram post from May 2023, Dr. Paul Saladino claimed that butter is a "health food with amazing nutrients."
Often, people who promote butter and animal fats claim that they are much healthier than seed oils.
Indeed, US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said on Instagram that seed oils are "one of the unhealthiest ingredients we have in foods."
According to a recent study published in JAMA Internal Medicine, however, there is no real evidence to support these claims.
In fact, the latest research revealed that higher butter consumption was associated with a 15% higher risk of mortality.
By contrast, a higher intake of plant-based oils, such as soybean, canola, and olive oil, was linked with a 16% reduction in total mortality.
The study that yielded these results was very comprehensive. It looked at 33 years of dietary data from more than 221,000 participants.
The participants reported their dietary habits to the research group every four years. This allowed the researchers to track changes over time and calculate averages.
The findings were then adjusted to account for variables such as age, body mass index (BMI), and overall calorie intake.
According to the study’s authors, it is important to note that the study's results are correlational. This means that they show association, but not necessarily causation.
Nonetheless, the findings are consistent with decades of existing evidence that links saturated fats (such as those found in butter or ghee) with health risks.
Moreover, they also demonstrate quite significant health benefits of substituting animal fats for plant oils (including seed oils).
Olive oil, canola oil, and soybean oil in particular were associated with a lower risk of dying.
These findings corroborate a large body of existing evidence that demonstrates the health benefits of these plant oils.
However, the study’s authors do emphasize that this doesn’t mean that we must eliminate butter altogether.
In fact, the choice as to whether or not to use butter may come down to the alternative options that are available.
For instance, if the choice is between butter and a partially hydrogenated plant oil that is high in trans fats, butter may be the better option.
In 2015, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) placed a ban on trans fats. However, you can still find them on the market.
This is because manufacturers are still allowed to use up to half a gram of trans fats per serving in their products.
However, if the choice is between butter and a plant seed oil, such as canola or soybean oil, the latter is generally the healthier choice.
Another option that was not included in the recent study is beef tallow–an animal fat that has grown in popularity in recent years due to its touted health benefits.
According to the study’s authors, the composition of beef tallow is such that it cannot be expected to be any better than butter.
Indeed, one previous study showed that fat from red meat, such as tallow, is marginally worse than dairy fat when it comes to mortality and cardiovascular disease.
As previously mentioned, there is no need to cut out butter completely. However, it may be better to use butter only when its specific taste is important.
When deciding which plant oil to use instead, it is a question of finding the right balance of nutrients for your body.
According to the study, olive, canola, and soybean oils had the most health benefits due to their high levels of anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids.
Maintaining the right level of omega-3s in the body is important for providing energy, maintaining immune defense, and reducing inflammation.
Other seed oils such as corn, peanut, and sunflower contain higher levels of omega-6 fatty acids. These are also necessary to maintain good health.
However, just like with omega-3s, it is possible to consume too many omega-6s. It is therefore important to find the right balance.
Sources: (CNN)
Butter vs. plant oils: surprising insights from a new study
Is it true that butter is healthier?
HEALTH Fats
According to a study recently published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine, there is very little evidence to support popular claims that butter is a healthy fat. This idea has been all over social media over the last few years, but new research suggests that, in fact, plant oils are the healthier option.
Curious? Check out this gallery to find out more.