Fact-checked by Lucent 3 months ago
Total Sources: 49
Verified Claims: 31
Scientific Sources: 17
Butter is a dairy product made from the fat and protein components of churned cream, typically from cow's milk, though it can also be made from the milk of other mammals [28]. It is a semi-solid emulsion at room temperature, used as a spread, condiment, and cooking fat [28].
Butter is a dairy product consisting of approximately 81% butterfat, produced by churning milk or cream to separate fat globules from buttermilk [28].
The anxiety level around butter consumption is moderate. Conflicting information exists regarding its health benefits, with some sources recommending it in moderation and others suggesting plant-based alternatives [6], [17], [19], [27].
Butter has been a dietary staple in cultures around the world since the domestication of animals, evolving in terms of social meaning and production practices [15].
Butter production and consumption has been primarily associated with women, who were responsible for milking cows and churning milk into butter, leading to butter becoming a symbol of femininity and domesticity [15].
In some ancient civilizations, the unexplained mystery behind milk's transformation into butter made it seem magical [24].
News and general sources present butter as a common and versatile ingredient with a rich history, while scientific sources offer more nuanced perspectives on its health effects, often comparing it to alternatives [19], [21], [24]. There's a growing social media trend that attacks seed oils in favor of butter, ghee and animal fats [27].
Likely origin of butter in ancient Africa, where a herdsman discovered it by accident [24].
Butter has been with humans for at least 4000 years [34].
Early Celts buried wooden buckets loaded with butter in Irish peat-bogs [24].
French chemist Hippolyte M\[00e8]ge-Mouri\[00e8]s patented oleomargarine, a lower-priced spread made from beef tallow [34].
The federal Margarine Act in the US placed a restrictive tax on margarine and demanded that margarine manufacturers pay prohibitive licensing fees [34].
"Buttergate" event in Canada where butter became more difficult to spread due to increased hardness, attributed to increased use of palm oil in dairy cattle diet [32].
Butter was initially used as a means of milk preservation and flavor enhancement [15].
First appeared: -8000
Higher butter intake was associated with increased total and cancer mortality [6].
Substituting butter with plant-based oils, particularly olive, soybean, and canola oils, may confer substantial benefits for preventing premature deaths [6].
More than one teaspoon (5 g) of butter/day was beneficially associated with several cardiometabolic risk factors and a lower type 2 diabetes risk [7].
A systematic review and meta-analysis suggests relatively small or neutral overall associations of butter with mortality and CVD [8], [48].
Butter and Plant-Based Oils Intake and Mortality
Higher butter intake was associated with increased total and cancer mortality, while higher intake of plant-based oils was associated with lower total, cancer, and cardiovascular disease mortality [6].
Associations of common fats and oils with cardiometabolic health outcomes in the Framingham Offspring cohort
More than one teaspoon (5 g) of butter/day was beneficially associated with several cardiometabolic risk factors and a lower type 2 diabetes risk, while margarine was associated with an increased risk of both CVD and T2DM [7].
Is Butter Back? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of ...
Emerging evidence suggests cardiometabolic benefits of dairy products and dairy fat [8].
Is Butter Back? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Butter Consumption and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease, Diabetes, and Total Mortality
Butter consumption was weakly associated with all-cause mortality; was not significantly associated with any cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, or stroke, and was inversely associated with incidence of diabetes [48].
Olive Oil
Dairy-free, rich in monounsaturated fats, and associated with a lower risk of heart disease [36], [42].
Where to find: Grocery stores
Plant-Based Butter
Dairy-free and can be used in cooking and baking, but nutritional profiles vary by brand [36], [42].
Where to find: Grocery stores
Ghee
Contains only a small amount of lactose, and most people with lactose intolerance can have it [36].
Where to find: Grocery and specialty food stores