Beware of the dangers of butter because it contains saturated fat

Butter is a food made from animal fat that contains saturated fat. Dangers of too much butter that is can increase cholesterol levels in the body, so that risk diabetes, stroke, and heart attack is increasing.

Butter is very popular in Indonesia, this material is very often found and used daily. Starting from a mixture of bread ingredients, substitute for cooking oil, to flavoring a variety of dishes. Although a study says saturated fat is not directly related to these diseases, it is still advisable to limit the consumption of butter.

Recognizing the Types of Fat

To understand the dangers of butter, it is best to first identify the types of fat contained in food. In general, there are two kinds of fat in food, namely saturated fat and unsaturated fat. Each food contains one type of fat that is more dominant.

To find out more about the types of fat, here's an explanation you need to know.

• Saturated fat

  Saturated fats are generally found in foods of animal origin, such as red meat, poultry, fish, cheese, and milk. The levels also vary. Saturated fat in red meat is higher than poultry and fish. Saturated fat is also found in foods of plant origin, such as cocoa or cocoa fat. Likewise, vegetable oils commonly used in the tropics, such as palm oil and coconut oil. At room temperature, saturated fat is solid, so it is often referred to as solid fat. This ingredient can increase cholesterol levels in the blood.

• Unsaturated fats

  This type of fat is mostly produced from plants, nuts, and fish. You are advised to consume more unsaturated fat than saturated fat. This is because unsaturated fats can help reduce bad cholesterol. However, that does not mean that unsaturated fats should be consumed in excess. Unsaturated fats are divided into two types, namely:- Monounsaturated fat

  Monounsaturated fats are found in canola oil, vegetable oil, peanut oil, avocado and olive. You are advised to eat foods containing monounsaturated fats to take advantage of maintaining good cholesterol (HDL) levels. Monounsaturated fats also lower bad cholesterol (LDL). What should be noted, you must compensate by reducing the consumption of saturated fat so that bad cholesterol levels can really be lowered.

  - Polyunsaturated fat

  Polyunsaturated fats are found in vegetable oils, namely corn oil, soybean oil, sesame oil, and sunflower seed oil. Another source is seafood (seafood). Like monounsaturated fat, polyunsaturated fat can also help lower bad cholesterol levels if consumed in place of saturated fat.

  There are two important types of long-chain unsaturated fats:

  - Omega-3 fatty acids, can be obtained from salmon, sardines, and shellfish, walnuts, soybean oil, and canola oil. Consuming 250 mg of omega-3 fatty acids per day will help improve body health.

  - Omega-6 fatty acids, can be obtained from corn oil and soybean oil.

• Trans fat

  Trans fats are fats that have been hydrogenated, which makes them last longer and have a tougher texture at room temperature. Usually these trans fats make crackers and chips taste more crunchy. Trans fats are often found in processed foods and certain snack foods, such as cakes and biscuits. In addition, it is also found in margarine, salad dressings, and crackers. Try to limit the consumption of this type of fat because it can increase cholesterol levels in the blood.

Fat Content in Butter and Its Relation to Health

As previously known, the danger of butter is increasing cholesterol levels because of the saturated fat content in it. Often people try to reduce their consumption of saturated fat by replacing it with less healthy refined carbohydrates, such as white bread. Of course the results will not be better, because unhealthy refined carbohydrates are also associated with an increased risk of heart disease.

It is recommended that you replace it with healthier foods, namely fruits, vegetables, and high-quality carbohydrates such as whole cereals (whole grains). For your choice of cooking oil and butter, you can replace it with corn oil or soybean oil.

After knowing the dangers of butter which contains a lot of saturated fat, it is hoped that you can start limiting its consumption. If you have special health conditions, you should consult a doctor for the amount of butter consumption that is allowed.