Why Butter and Coconut Oil Are Good for You

Improving your body’s ability to burn fat is another benefit of eating foods high in fat.By Natalia Klenova/Shutterstock

Have you been steering clear of saturated fats? Years of independent research find there is no reason to avoid butter and coconut oil. This essential fatty acid may be one reason why butter is good for you.

STORY AT-A-GLANCE

• Data show that higher levels of dairy fat biomarkers are associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality. The link appears to be odd-chain saturated fats, like pentadecanoic acid (C15:0)
• People with higher levels of C15:0 had a lower incidence of heart disease risk in a linear dose-dependent manner. Data compared C15:0 against omega-3 and found broader health benefits
• Coconut oil is another healthy saturated fat that helps control Crohn’s disease, support thyroid function and promote heart health; in places where coconut oil is routinely consumed, the populations have little vascular disease
• Conversely, vegetable oils, which are recommended by the American Heart Association, lead to a severe imbalance in omega-3 and omega-6, and increase your risk of several chronic and lethal diseases, including cancer and mitochondrial dysfunction leading to cell death

Dietary fats are a crucial component of a healthy diet. However, the type of fat you choose can make the difference between supporting optimal health or promoting disease. Replacing dangerous oils with healthy fats is one simple way to boost your health and reduce the risk of chronic disease.¹

For example, I’ve often warned against the use of soybean oil.² Soybeans not only are typically genetically modified to withstand applications of herbicides such as Roundup,³ but the oil is also partially hydrogenated and loaded with trans fat,⁴ it’s also a source of omega-6 fat called linoleic acid (LA). This is highly susceptible to oxygenation, which in turn damages your cells.