Thursday, January 19, 2012

Calorie Info of Light and Regular Butter



Light butter is made with water and extra air during the churning process, yielding a product with about a quarter less fat than regular butter. The decreased fat content provides significant health benefits, including lower cholesterol and clearer arteries to enable the heart to function more efficiently. Also, in one of many studies that show a correlation between low-fat diets and better health, the National Cancer Institute reports that such diets may help to prevent the recurrence of breast cancer.

Cholesterol

Light butter contains 15 milligrams of cholesterol per tablespoon, compared with 30 mg in regular butter. Excessive cholesterol in the bloodstream causes a buildup of plaque within the coronary arteries, leading to atherosclerosis and an increased risk of heart disease, strokes and heart attacks. While prescription medications can also lower cholesterol, dietary changes such as using light butter are a natural way to reduce cholesterol intake.

Saturated Fat

A tablespoon of regular butter contains 7 grams of saturated fat, as well as slightly less than 1/2 gram of trans fat. Light butter, by contrast, boasts only 3.5 grams of saturated fat. This difference represents a major health benefit, as saturated fat directly increases LDL cholesterol and leads to a higher risk of heart disease. It can also cause cancer, diabetes and other serious health issues.

Calories

A tablespoon of light butter has 50 calories, while regular butter contains more than twice that amount. Excessive calorie intake can lead to obesity, which heightens the risk for high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease. Low-calorie diets can lead to weight loss and health improvement. Given butter's ubiquitous presence in prepared foods, dieters often have to accept stark changes to their eating habits. The added water content in light butter, for example, makes it ideal as a spread, if less useful for cooking purposes.

Trans Fat

Both light butter and regular butter contain small amounts of trans fat. While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration allows foods with less than 1/2 gram of trans fat to indicate "0 g" on their labels, consumers must remain aware that eating butter with 0.4 grams of trans fat per serving, for example, can still lead to excessive intake. The American Heart Association recommends no more than 2 grams of trans fat per day.

 
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