5 healthy alternatives to butter for a better heart

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Butter is easily one of the best ingredients for cooking delicious and sumptuous meals. However, it is also a source of saturated fats that is why it may not be the healthiest food choice in the market. This type of fat can block blood vessels and spike the levels of bad cholesterol in the body, resulting to the occurrence of heart attack and stroke.

Luckily, there are healthier alternatives that can act as great replacements for cooking, spreading, dipping and best of all, eating. Here is a list of the top five better than butter substitutes that will surely improve your dishes and your heart health.

OLIVE OIL

This green elixir from olives is well-known for being a regular ingredient on fresh salads and pesto dishes but did you know that there are many ways you can incorporate it in your daily cooking? Everyday Health recommends replacing a cup of butter to a quarter of olive oil whenever you see it in a recipe to make the dish healthier. This method is good for baking cakes, pastries and almost anything else!

The American Heart Association states that olive oil should be considered as a heart health staple in every household thus they suggest families to load up on this healthy oil.

AVOCADO

Food Watch Australia suggests changing butter to avocado on your toast because it is rich in monounsaturated fat, the one responsible for lowering bad cholesterol, making it totally heart-friendly. It only has 22 percent total fat, making it lighter than margarine, butter and most spreadable available in the market plus it is rich in potassium, fiber and vitamin K for a nutrient-pack food choice. What more, like olive oil, it can also be used in baking, substituting instead with pureed avocado as to the amount of butter the recipe calls for.

COCONUT OIL

This versatile oil can be used in almost anything, says Enki Village. Just like butter, it turns into solid when cooled but unlike the dreaded anti-heart ingredient, coconut oil has medium-chain triglyceride fats that helps in increasing the level of HDL or the good cholesterol in the blood. What more, it is also packed with antiviral properties that can help boost the immune system and protect the body from cancer.

APPLESAUCE

Everyday Health adds that for baking, choosing applesauce over butter can make your cake moist and delicious while reducing the amount of calories. It is also rich in fiber that aids in digestion. Substitute equal amounts of applesauce to butter but for richer, sweeter endings, make it twice the amount.

PEANUT BUTTER

Food Watch Australia adds that besides being a big hit among kids, peanut butter also has 50 percent fat and more protein than butter, making it a healthier choice for everyone including vegetarians. Besides protein, nut butter has fiber, potassium and can make you full faster than eating butter on toast. It also one of the best dipping sauce for fruits as a healthy lunch and snack for school.