Eat well
Is vegan butter healthy?
"I've seen vegan butter in the supermarket, is it healthier than normal butter?"
Senior Dietitian, Victoria Taylor, says:
“Plant-based butter” or “vegan butter” is now available for people following a vegan or plant-based diet. But unfortunately, it’s not necessarily healthier than normal butter.
Like dairy butter, vegan butter comes in a block and is more solid than vegetable-oil products sold as spreads. That means it needs to have more saturated fat – because saturated fats are solid at room temperature whereas unsaturated fats are liquid.
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Palm oil or coconut oil (which are high in saturated fat) are generally used to make it solid. From a nutrition perspective vegan butter is similar to butter with around 80g of fat per 100g, of which approximately 50g is saturated.
A standard unsaturated spread contains around 50-70g of fat per 100g, of which around 12g is saturated – so is a better everyday choice.
Choosing the unsaturated option can help manage your cholesterol levels, which in turn can help reduce your risk of heart and circulatory disease. Different products can vary, so if you’re not sure, check the labels and aim for the lowest amount of saturated fat per 100g.
- Learn more about different types of fats
- Get tips for managing high cholesterol
Meet the expert
Victoria Taylor is a registered dietitian with twenty years’ experience. Her work for the NHS focused on weight management and community programmes for the prevention of cardiovascular disease. At the BHF she advises on diet and nutrition.
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