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<pre>Hi Phillip,

Re: Nutritional facts comparing butter ad olive oil

The calorie count is approximately the same regardless of whether you
are using oil or butter. What is really signifcant is that the types of
saturated fatty acids found in butter, namely myristic and palmitic are
among the most cholesterol-forming fatty acids known. Olive oil
contains none of these.

Perhaps for this reason, the Greeks and the Italians on whom the
original studies of the Mediterranean diet were done, were often quite
overweight/ obese because of their high oil calorie intake but still
remarkably free of heart disease. Obviously it was not fat calories
alone which made the difference in heart disease mortality.

Interestingly too, the Mediterraneans in these studies smoked heavily
and exercised no more than those groups such as the Finnish and the
Americans who had the highest heart disease levels. Such is the power
of the Mediterranean diet - and Extra Virgin olive oil is a key element
of this diet.

The butter/ oil mixture is therefore a compromise, providing a
significant quantity of olive oil but providing the convenience of a
spreadable product which does not solidify in the refrigerator.

Hope this answers your query

Christine Houghton
Australia


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