Butter New research from Lund University in Sweden has found that eating butter actually results in lower levels of blood fats after a meal than the same food eaten with olive oil.
That may sound as though butter is healthier than olive oil, but unfortunately it’s not that simple.
The researchers say the results just show that each type of fat behaves differently and has its own advantages and disadvantages. "Roughly one-fifth of butter is made up of short and medium-length fatty acids," says Norris. "Your body uses these up quickly and efficiently."
The researchers say that this is partly why fat levels in your bloodstream could be lower after eating butter, as opposed to olive oil.
They also theorise that the lower levels could be down to the other fatty acids being stored in your intestinal cells – that these cells have a preference for the type of fat found in butter. "As with everything, moderation is key," says Norris.
"We know that eating too much saturated fat such as butter – more than around 20-25g per day – increases cholesterol levels. We also know that olive oil has heart-healthy benefits. The important thing is to only eat as much fat as you need to burn each day – around 90 g of fat for a man, and 65g for a woman, and to minimise the saturated fats."
Published on February 17, 2010