Trying to quit butter

[Anonymous]

OP, try a very high-quality extra-virgin olive oil. It's good for your cholesterol levels. I just got a California oil that is unbelievably good.

[Anonymous]

I've replaced olive oil with butter on many things as well and have reduced my butter intake by probably 75%. I wasn't trying to but ultimatley decided I prefer the taste of olive oil.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's not judging, OP. Butter is all natural, no chemicals. The fake stuff is just that, fake. You ever see what margarine looks like before it's all melded together - it's got something like 3 layers to it. why not just cut back to half of what you consume, or eliminate it all together? You can't really substitute it in most recipes with margarine. You could try using low fat cream cheese or jelly/jam on your toast. Or try nothing at all. sorry about your high cholesterol, but a tblspoon of butter isn't going to hurt you.

Lay off OP! I've also gotten the high cholesterol warning from my doc and am trying to reduce fat and cholesterol. You're so opposed to margarine (and I don't blame you for that) that you're not understanding that she seriously has to reduce her butter intake. Her health is at stake.

OP, I was so pissed off when I got the news I had to change my diet because I love butter and cheese. But, like a pp said, I now dip my good bread in olive oil -- tasty and full of the good kind of cholesterol that you need. Also I have noticed how "designer" bread (as I like to call the expensive bread my dh loves) tastes really good without anything on it. I am noticing the various nice flavors in the bread when I eat it without butter, cheese, or even olive oil.

Another thing I realized once I started reading labels is that peanut butter which I always assumed was higher in fat than butter actually has less fat so some days I put peanut butter on my toast.

Good luck, OP! I know where you're coming from!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why is there SO MUCH JUDGING here. I am the OP, and my health is at risk, due to my high cholesterol. And WHO CARES....why I want to not eat butter. My statement was "Trying to quit butter", so for the poster who was assuring me that it isn't crack....I KNOJW THAT. and STOP IT. Hope you don't do that to your friends and family!

I hope you don't ask your friends and family for advice and then tie them in straight jackets while holding an electric cow prod so they can only answer exactly the way you want them to. You could have just said, "I'm quitting butter because I've been told by my doctor I have high cholesterol."

[Anonymous]

Three things: I agree that really good olive oil can be a delicious substitute. Also lately I've been using Land O Lakes half butter half canola oil, which I think is very good, even in very small amounts because you can still get the butter flavor but at a much reduced amount of hydrogenated fat. And finally, I used to mix butter half and half with a really good-tasting flax seed oil and then stick it back in the fridge to get hard again. That was great on toast.

I've tried many of the supposedly healthy solid substitutes and I have yet to find one that I didn't immediately toss in the trash - yuk. I wish I had a good recommendation for you there.

And by the way, if you're looking for a healthy "mayonnaise", the one that's made with grape seed oil in the refrigerated section of Whole Foods and My Organic Market is even better than the traditional ones. And grape seed oil is supposed to be excellent for cholesterol issues.

[Anonymous]

Butter is high in saturated fat and cholesterol. I think it also contains some naturally occuring trans fat (ruminant trans fat), which is not good for folks with high cholesterol, even though it is natural.

OP, try to look for substitues that use olive oil and canola oil. Some substitues actually have partially hydrogenated oils in them. You want to avoid that of course. The tricky thing is that the label might say "zero trans fat" which actually means up to 1 gram per teaspoon allowed. So, read that ingredients and make sure that there are no partially hydrogenated oils.

My cholesterol is 130. I think it has to do with the fact that avoid trans fat in foods. I minimize dairy products since that would be a source of trans fat. My siblings are not as cautious, and their cholesterol levels are high. Also, I take moderate amounts of flax, and folic acid.

To the pp that mentioned natural, there are many natural foods and products that are not good for us.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, but I still think there's nothing wrong with a tbls of butter a day. there are other things in your diet that contribute to high cholesterol, too. for all I know, OP has a serious potato chip habit.

[Anonymous]

Yes, pp, but she is just trying to reduce her cholesterol. That is good. We should all try to take better care of ourselves. I use a substitute and I do not miss butter at all.

[Anonymous]

Let's just end this madness:

http://my.clevelandclinic.org/heart/prevention/askdietician/margarine.aspx

[Anonymous]

Earth's Balance has no trans fat.

[Anonymous]

BTW, thanks 18:50.

[Anonymous]

OP

For olive oil if you add some herbs, garlice or even a little crushed red pepper it is great for dipping crusty bread! On vegetables I saute in garlice and oil too. You could also try roasting veggies at high temps they are very tasty this way.

On bread and toast, my kids like the sugar free jellies and jam.

For pancakes and waffles try pureeing some fruit and heating it up as a syrup/spread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP

For olive oil if you add some herbs, garlice or even a little crushed red pepper it is great for dipping crusty bread! On vegetables I saute in garlice and oil too. You could also try roasting veggies at high temps they are very tasty this way.

On bread and toast, my kids like the sugar free jellies and jam.

For pancakes and waffles try pureeing some fruit and heating it up as a syrup/spread.

I believe there is NOTHING better than extra virgin olive oil! the greener the better!

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/food-and-nutrition/AN01037

"When cooking with fats, olive oil is a healthy choice. Olive oil contains monounsaturated fat, which can lower your risk of heart disease by reducing the total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or "bad") cholesterol levels in your blood."

And I roast my vegetables all the time with O.O. It's the only way my daughter will eat her vegetables.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:BTW, thanks 18:50.

Yes, very interesting piece, 18:50. Really appreciate your sharing it.

[Anonymous]

OP here.
No crack.
No potato Chip Habit.
And no...I don't eat sticks of butter.

I am of average weight, and love fruits and vegetables.

I am just one of those people who have to be VERY careful about Cholesterol, and butter is the last thing I am trying to give up.
Thanks for all of the great suggestions, and very informative links.

My whole family loves Olive Oil...so that is a great idea!
And the land-o lakes 1/2 butter products sounds great.

Thanks again.....