Butter Raises Death Risk by 15%; Plant Oils Lower It by 16%

Tejal Somvanshi

Swapping butter for plant oils could cut your risk of early death by 17%, according to a massive 33-year study of over 221,000 people.

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People consuming the most butter faced a 15% higher death risk, while those using more plant oils enjoyed a 16% lower mortality rate.

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Social media influencers promoting butter as a "health food" clash with scientific evidence showing its high saturated fat content raises health risks.

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Just replacing two teaspoons of butter daily with plant oils significantly reduced both overall mortality and cancer-related deaths.

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Olive, canola, and soybean oils delivered the strongest health benefits, while corn and safflower oils showed less impressive results.

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"For some reason, a myth has been floating around the internet that butter is a healthy fat, but there is no good evidence to support this," said Dr. Walter Willett.

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Experts still advocate moderation — occasional butter use is fine, especially if you limit other animal fats and choose low-fat dairy products.

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The American Heart Association recommends keeping saturated fat under 6% of daily calories — about 13 grams for a 2,000-calorie diet.

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The study counters claims by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who called seed oils "toxic" despite overwhelming scientific evidence of their benefits.

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