If you are perplexed by some the recent media stories claiming that butter (and other saturated fats) may not be so bad (such as this article from the New York Times last year) – here is an excellent article from a trusted, knowledgeable resource – the Harvard School of Public Health – that clarifies the issue (click here for article).

Here is the conclusion of the article:

In the case of dietary fat, most scientists do agree on a number of points. First, eating foods rich in polyunsaturated fat will reduce the risk of heart disease and prevent insulin resistance. Second, replacing saturated fat with refined carbohydrates will not reduce heart disease risk. Third, olive oil, canola oil, and soybean oil are good for you—as are nuts (especially walnuts), which, while they include some saturated fat, are also high in unsaturated fat, tipping the balance in their favor. Finally, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are essential for many biological processes—from building healthy cells to maintaining brain and nerve function—and we should eat a variety of healthy foods, such as fish, nuts, seeds, and vegetable oils, to obtain adequate amounts of both fatty acids.

Other, finer points are still unclear. For instance, monounsaturated fat is believed to lower risk for heart disease. But it’s difficult to study in Western populations, because most people get their monounsaturated fat from meat and dairy, which are also full of saturated fat. Still, people can choose from a variety of monounsaturated-fat-rich foods, such as peanuts and most tree nuts, avocados, and, of course, olive oil. And though scientists agree that omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are essential, they debate how much of each we actually need.

As you can see, the point is not that butter is good – it’s that replacing it with other processed foods such as refined carbohydrates won’t improve your health.

Here is my earlier post on saturated fats, along with links to a useful video and other resources.

Here is more information about a heart healthy diet.