Food fat warnings: why you should add butter to your shopping list

As new research refutes the idea saturated fats are bad for you, what foods should you be adding to your shopping basket?

Friend, not foe: are saturated fats such as butter good for us after all? Credit: Photo: Alamy

New research claims that official warnings against the consumption of saturated fats

should never have been introduced

The article in BMJ's Open Heart journal argues that the advice was based on flawed data and "very limited evidence".

The warning, adopted by British authorities in the early 1980s, was based on research that focused only on unhealthy men, with the reports authors arguing: "it seems incomprehensible that dietary advice was introduced for 220 million Americans and 56 million UK citizens.

“Dietary advice does not merely need a review; it should not have been introduced.”

Men were advised they should consume no more than 30g of saturated fat per day, while women were told to consume no more than 20g.

So what foods should you be adding to your shopping basket?

Butter and lard
Full fat yoghurts
Full fat milk
Pies
Cakes and biscuits (within reason, of course)
Fatty cuts of meat
Sausages
Bacon
Cheese and cream
Chocolate

And what's out?

Experts claim that it is carbohydrates, sugars and processed foods that contribute to heart disease and recommend avoiding foods such as:

Fructose (except that naturally occurring in whole fruits)
White rice
White bread
Sugar
Processed foods

FOUR FOODS WE ONCE THOUGHT WERE BAD FOR US

Egg yolk: Previously thought to cause blood cholesterol levels to rise, egg yolks are actually packed with important and essential vitamins and minerals our bodies need.

Avocados: With its high fat content, the avocado was once thought to be bad for you. Now, nutrionists say it can actually help to lower your cholesterol as avocados are rich in beta-sitosterol - a natural substance that significantly lowers blood cholesterol levels.

Maple syrup: Not just a tasty sweetener for pancakes, maple syrup actually contains healthy antioxidants and flavonoids known for their anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties.

Nuts: Though nuts have a high fat content, eaten in moderation they can be a healthy addition to your diet. Their fiber, vitamin and mineral content mean they can help to prevent heart disease and cancer.

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