A recent study funded by the butter industry gave further confirmation that butter increases both total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol), especially when compared with olive oil as an alternative. You can also use olive oil in place of most cooking or vegetable oils in equal amounts.
In this study, researchers found that all three fats increased your overall cholesterol. Only patients who ate butter experienced an increase in their LDL cholesterol, the bad type. Notably, the differences between butter and coconut oil/olive oil was statistically significant in pairwise comparisons.
Olive oil is packed full of beneficial antioxidants that can lower your "bad" (LDL) cholesterol while leaving your "good" (HDL) cholesterol untouched.
Because olive oil has more monounsaturated fats (the heart-healthy fats) than butter, it stands to reason it's also healthier to cook with.
However, olive oil is lower in the saturated fats that put you at risk of heart disease and high LDL cholesterol, and has more heart-healthy monounsaturated fats than butter, being a preference of the American Heart Association and anyone looking for those good HDL and cholesterol numbers (which is easy to see in the ...
These potent molecules mean that even a little bit of the right olive oil consumed daily can protect from cardiovascular disease and reduce existing damage to the heart and arteries. This is why cardiologists recommend switching to high-phenolic olive oil.
Now we know that while butter is rich in saturated fat, olive oil is packed with monounsaturated fatty acids, which our body finds easier to ingest. In addition, extra-virgin olive oil also contains polyphenols, along with other virtues such as boosting circulation and helping the intestines.
Butter certainly works for fried eggs, but oil is the fat of choice for cooks who want a runny yolk with a satisfying crispy white. Extra-virgin olive oil is most popular, and yields a satisfyingly crunchy bottom that will soak up luscious flavor.
Swapping olive oil for butter cuts saturated fat. Plus, good olive oil adds a wonderful, nuanced flavor to baked goods and keeps them moist. Olive oil also contributes to a special, textured "crumb." To help you with your holiday baking, we've assembled a Q&A on baking with olive oil.
Olive oil in Italian cuisine
Although Italians do eat butter, particularly in the north of the country, olive oil is the undisputed foundation of Italian cuisine.
Avocados. Avocados are a potent source of nutrients as well as monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs). Research suggests that adding an avocado a day to a heart-healthy diet can help improve LDL cholesterol levels in people who are overweight or obese.
In summary, olive oil can raise your levels of healthy cholesterol while reducing the LDL cholesterol which is harmful to the body. That's why we always recommend consuming at least two tablespoons of Carapelli EVOO per day, ensuring excellent cardiovascular health to add to the ultimate delight of consuming this oil.
Heart-healthy oils like canola, corn, olive, peanut, and sunflower oils contain monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. They help to lower harmful low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and raise healthy high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.
Scientists around the world simultaneously showed that saturated fat—the kind in butter and lard—increases both “bad” LDL cholesterol and “good” HDL cholesterol, making it similar to carbohydrates overall but not as beneficial to health as polyunsaturated fats from nuts and vegetables.
Nuttelex is virtually free from trans fats at 0.4% or lower. Nuttelex also contains 65% or less saturated fat than butter. In addition, Nuttelex is made with vegetable oils. Vegetable oils contain higher content of the good fats (monounsaturated fat and polyunsaturated fat) and are lower in saturated fat.
A few small swaps can make a big difference to your cholesterol level. Many people say they don't notice the difference. Try: swapping butter to vegetable oil spreads like sunflower, olive or rapeseed oil spreads.
"However, we need to step back and decide if there's something even better." Nut and seed butters, such as almond or sunflower, are naturally rich in heart-healthy fats and also contain fiber and protein, which are not found in butter substitutes. You can also try mashed avocado, hummus, or extra virgin olive oil.
While keeping that in mind, some of the most commonly used substitutes include coconut oil, coconut butter, olive oil, safflower oil, nut butter, applesauce, yogurt, and dairy free butter.
If you add a tablespoon of olive oil or avocado oil to the pan, you may also be adding some extra health benefits to your eggs. Both of these oils are considered “healthy fats” which may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Olive oil is also considered an antioxidant that may help fight inflammation.
The short answer is: Yes you can! This is a debated subject, and I want you to use whatever healthy oil you feel comfortable using for your fried eggs. When frying an egg in quality extra virgin olive oil, you'll use shallow amounts of the oil, over medium heat, for about 2 minutes or so.
Putting Butter in Perspective
Doctors frequently advise their heart patients to steer clear of butter. Why? More than half the fat in butter is saturated fat, which is a kind of fat that can increase total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Just a tablespoon of butter packs 7 grams of saturated fat.
Both olive oil and avocado oil are considered good fats and are an excellent source of monounsaturated fatty acids, which can help improve heart health. On the other hand, olive oil is slightly more nutritious on the whole because it contains more potassium, calcium, iron and vitamins.
Avocado. Give cheese on toast a miss and instead use sliced or mashed avocado to top wholegrain toast or crumpets. This quick snack is rich in unsaturated, rather than saturated, fats.