Swapping out butter for certain plant-based oils could significantly lower your risk of mortality, according to a recent study.
These findings stand in contrast to the rising social media narrative that criticizes seed oils in favor of butter, ghee, and animal fats.
“Seed oils are one of the most unhealthy ingredients we have in foods,” stated US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in a 2024 Instagram video, where he continues to champion the phrase “Making Frying Oil Tallow Again.”
Many influencers echo similar sentiments, including Dr. Paul Saladino, a proponent of an animal-based diet with a following of 2.6 million on Instagram. He remarked in a post, “Butter is a health food with amazing nutrients,” highlighting its benefits for gut health, brain function, cardiovascular health, and overall vitality.
However, the evidence contradicts that perspective, according to Walter Willett, a professor of epidemiology and nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston and coauthor of the study. Willett stated, “For some unclear reason, a myth has circulated online that butter is a healthy fat, but there is no solid evidence to support this.” With over 40 years of research into diet’s impact on major diseases and more than 2,000 published articles, Willett provides a seasoned perspective on the topic.
In the latest research published in JAMA Internal Medicine, Willett and his team found that increased butter consumption correlated with a 15% higher risk of death, while consuming more plant-based oils, such as soybean, canola, and olive oil, was associated with a 16% reduction in total mortality.
Moreover, simply replacing 10 grams (0.35 ounces) of butter daily with these plant-based oils was linked to a 17% lower risk of total mortality and cancer-related deaths.
“Seventeen percent is a substantial change, particularly from a public health viewpoint,” noted Dr. Yu Zhang, a coauthor and researcher at the Channing Division of Network Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. “Consider how many deaths we could potentially prevent in the general population.”
