Butter to Plant Oils Swap Could Cut Death Risk by 17 Percent
1min read Recent research has highlighted the potential health benefits of a simple dietary change: substituting butter with plant-based oils. A comprehensive study conducted by several prominent institutions found that this swap could lower the risk of premature death by up to 17 percent. The study, which analyzed diet and health data from over 200,000 participants followed for more than 30 years, revealed that higher consumption of plant-based oils, particularly soybean, canola, and olive oil, was associated with lower total, cancer, and cardiovascular disease mortality. Conversely, butter use was linked with increased risk of total and cancer mortality.
The study's lead author emphasized the significance of the findings, noting that even a small reduction in butter consumption and an increase in plant-based oils could have meaningful long-term health benefits. The researchers estimated participants’ consumption of butter and plant oils based on their reported use in various cooking methods. They found that participants who ate the most butter had a 15 percent higher risk of dying than those who ate the least, while those who consumed the most plant-based oils had a 16 percent lower risk of death.
The study also conducted a substitution analysis, which simulated the impact of swapping butter for plant oils in a feeding trial. The results showed that replacing 10 grams of butter a day with equivalent calories of plant-based oils could lower cancer deaths and overall mortality by 17 percent. This finding underscores the potential public health benefits of such a dietary change, as it could prevent a substantial number of deaths from cancer and other chronic diseases.
While the study provides compelling evidence, it is important to note that the participants were mainly health professionals, which may limit the generalizability of the findings to the broader population. Future research is needed to understand the biological mechanisms underlying the observed health benefits. Nonetheless, the study offers valuable insights into the potential health benefits of a simple dietary change, encouraging individuals to consider incorporating more plant-based oils into their daily diets.
