Butter or oil? Both ingredients flavor meals, but which one is healthier?
“Butter is not what you want to choose,” said Linda Yerardi, dietitian with Mercy Medical’s Diabetes Center. “Any product with unsaturated fat, like olive oil, is going to be best and much better than butter.”
Saturated fat increases your cholesterol, according to Yerardi.
“High cholesterol is a factor in developing heart disease,” she said. When cooking red meat, Yerardi suggests adding balsamic vinegar or red wine to herbs and canola oil or olive oil. Extra virgin olive oil will have a stronger flavor than regular olive oil.
Fat-free or light salad dressings are also healthy alternatives to butter and oil, Yerardi said.
For more information about the best fats and oils to use in the kitchen, visit nhlbisupport.com/chd1/Tipsheets/tipsheet-satfat.htm.
