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Healthwatch

Less Butter, More Plant Oils, Longer Life?

~3.1 mins read

Stepping up plant oils while pulling back on butter in our diet may help lengthen lives.

Bottles of all shapes and sizes filled with healthy plant oils posed on a reflective countertop

Not such good news for butter lovers like myself: seesawing research on how healthy or unhealthy butter might be received a firm push from a recent Harvard study published in JAMA Internal Medicine. Drawing on decades of data gathered through long-term observational studies, the researchers investigated whether butter and plant oils affect mortality.

One basic takeaway? "A higher intake of butter increases mortality risk, while a higher intake of plant-based oil will lower it," says Yu Zhang, lead author of the study. And importantly, choosing to substitute certain plant oils for butter might help people live longer.

What did the study find about butter versus plant oils?

The researchers divided participants into four groups based on how much butter and plant oils they reported using on dietary questionnaires. They compared deaths among those consuming the highest amounts of butter or plant oils with those consuming the least, over a period of up to 33 years.

Plant oils won out handily. A 15% higher risk of death was seen among those who ate the most butter compared with those who ate the least. A 16% lower risk of death was seen among those who consumed the highest amount of plant oils compared with those who consumed the least.

Higher butter intake also raised risk for cancer deaths. And higher plant oil intake cut the risk for dying from cancer or cardiovascular disease like stroke or heart attack.

While the study looked at five plant oils, only soybean, canola, and olive oil were linked with survival benefits. Swapping out a small amount of butter in the daily diet — about 10 grams, which is slightly less than a tablespoon — for an equivalent amount of those plant-based oils was linked with fewer total deaths and fewer cancer deaths, according to a modeling analysis.

How could substituting plant oils for butter improve health?

"Butter has almost no essential fatty acids and a modest amount of trans fat — the worst type of fat for cardiovascular disease," Dr. Walter C. Willett, professor of epidemiology and nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, noted by email.

By contrast, the plant oils highlighted in this study are rich in antioxidants, essential fatty acids, and unsaturated fats, which research has linked to healthier levels of cholesterol and triglycerides and lower insulin resistance.

Especially when substituted for a saturated fat like butter, plant oils also may help lower chronic inflammation within the body. Making such substitutions aligns with American Heart Association recommendations and current Dietary Guidelines for Americans for healthful eating that lower risk for chronic disease.

And for the butter lovers? "A little butter occasionally for its flavor would not be a problem," says Dr. Willett. "But for better health, use liquid plant oils whenever possible instead of butter for cooking and at the table." Try sampling a variety of plant oils, like different olive oils, mustard oil, and sesame oil, to learn which ones you enjoy for different purposes, he suggests. Additionally, a blend or mix of butter with oils — or sometimes a bit of butter on its own — can satisfy taste buds.

What about study limitations and strengths?

The study crunched data collected through a questionnaire answered every four years by more than 221,000 adults participating in the Nurses' Health Study, Nurses' Health Study II, and Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. As is true of all observational studies, this type of research can't prove cause and effect, although it adds to the body of evidence. Because most participants were white health care professionals, the findings may not apply to a wider population.

The researchers adjusted for many variables that can affect health, including age, physical activity, smoking status, and family history of illnesses like cancer and diabetes. The size of the study, the length of follow-up, and multiple adjustments like these are all strengths.

Harvard Health Publishing

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News_Naija

Edo Poll: APC, PDP Confident As Supreme Court Holds Final Verdict

~3.3 mins read

The Edo State chapters of the People Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress are upbeat that the eventual Supreme Court judgment will favour them. In the governorship poll, INEC declared that Governor Monday Okpebholo polled 291,667 to defeat Asue Ighodalo, who polled 247,655 votes. The PDP and its candidate, Ighodalo, after losing the September 21, 2024, governorship election, dragged the APC and its candidate, Okpebholo, to court. The petitioners in a petition marked EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024, alleged that Okpebholo did not score the highest number of votes in the election, adding that the election was marred with multiple irregularities and corrupt practices. The petitioners alleged a high record of over-voting in the election and prayed the tribunal to nullify the election over non-serialization of ballots, incorrect collation of figures, and erroneous computation of scores in 765 polling units. On April 2, 2025, a three-member panel of the Edo State governorship election petition tribunal chaired by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, in a unanimous decision, dismissed the petition of the PDP and Ighodalo for their inability to prove the allegation of over-voting. The PUNCH reported that the Appeal Court Abuja Division, on May 29, 2025, affirmed the decision of the Edo State governorship election petition tribunal that affirmed the election victory of Governor Okpebholo. The three-member panel of the appellate court, in a unanimous decision, dismissed Ighodalo’s appeal, describing it as devoid of merit. The PDP and its candidate, having lost the two trials, are currently at the Supreme Court hoping that the judgment will go their way. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court reserved judgment for delivery at a later date. Speaking to The PUNCH, the chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the PDP in Edo State, Tony Aziegbemi, expressed hope that the eventual judgment would go their way. He said, “The Supreme Court judges gave each lawyer 10 minutes to talk and they said we will hear from them concerning the judgment. So nothing much transpired at the court. “What happened at the court is what we expected. They were supposed to adopt those written addresses. We didn’t expect anything else to happen. “However, we expected that our candidate, Asue Ighodalo, will be declared winner by the Supreme Court.” The Publicity Secretary of the Edo APC, Peter Uwadiae-Igbinigie, said the consistent nature of the Supreme Court would give his party and its candidate victory. He added, “We do not doubt the judiciary. The highest respect you should have for a constituted organ of government is what we have for the judiciary. We know they have been consistent in the review of evidence before them. “The court does not manufacture evidence. The court is not a Father Christmas and no court can give judgment in favour of someone who has not proven its case before it. “The Supreme Court is going to look at the evidence before the tribunal, reviewed by the Court of Appeal and consequently give their verdict. The verdict is going to be in consonant with the law.” Speaking on the law, the party said “The law is that he who alleges must prove. In this case, the PDP and Ighodalo alleged issues that they could not buttress with any evidence. They said there was an infraction of the law which they were not able to prove. “Even the little proofs they manage to present were expunged by the Court of Appeal. They have also disregarded our party and candidate by their inability to prove that we committed an infraction.” Earlier on Wednesday, the Supreme Court reserved judgment after taking arguments for and against the appeal challenging the election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission, which pronounced Okpebholo winner. The appeal was heard by a five-member panel of justices of the apex court, presided over by Justice Garba Lawal. Ighodalo’s appeal was argued by Ken Mozia (SAN). He prayed the Supreme Court to set aside the judgment of the lower courts that upheld INEC’s declaration. At the hearing of the appeal before the apex court, INEC was represented by Kanu Agabi (SAN). In his arguments, he urged the apex court to dismiss the appeal in its entirety, stating that Ighodalo and the PDP had, in their petition, stigmatised the election as invalid and unlawful on the grounds of non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2022. He added that having declared the election unlawful and illegal, Ighodalo and the PDP could not turn around and pray the court to declare them as winners of illegality. INEC accused Ighodalo and the PDP of being inconsistent in their grievances against the election and pleaded that their case be dismissed for want of merit. Okpebholo’s counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) and APC’s counsel, Emmanuel Okala (SAN), similarly urged the apex court to dismiss Igodhalo’s appeal. After taking arguments from the parties in the suit, Justice Lawal stated that the date for delivery of the judgment would be communicated to the parties.

Read more stories like this on punchng.com

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Worldnews

FIFA Club World Cup Semifinals: Qualified Teams And Full Schedule

~2.5 mins read

An epic all-European clash and an upstart Brazilian side takes on London’s finest in the final four. Three European teams and one from South America have their sights set on the FIFA Club World Cup (CWC) 2025 trophy as the tournament enters the semifinal stage on Tuesday. The final two clubs qualified for the final four on Saturday. UEFA Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) spectacularly defeated Bayern Munich 2-0 in the quarterfinals despite being reduced to nine men. Five-time CWC winners Real Madrid played out a five-goal thriller to beat Borussia Dortmund 3-2 to seal their semifinal spot. Here’s how the Club World Cup semifinals line up: When: Tuesday at 3pm (19:00 GMT)
Where: MetLife Stadium, New Jersey The opening semifinal pitches Brazil’s Fluminense against English Premier League side Chelsea. Fluminense continue to impress at the CWC with goals from Matheus Martinelli and Hercules securing their place in the last four with a 2-1 win against Al Hilal in Orlando, Florida. Chelsea scored the go-ahead goal on Malo Gusto’s 83rd-minute shot, which went in after a pair of deflections, beating Palmeiras 2-1 on Friday night to secure their spot in the semifinals. Cole Palmer put Chelsea ahead in the 16th minute, but Estevao, an 18-year-old who will transfer to Chelsea after the CWC, tied the score against his future club in the 53rd. Gusto’s match-winning shot after a short corner kick that appeared to deflect off defender Agustin Giay and goalkeeper Weverton sent the Chelsea fans among the 65,782 spectators into a frenzy. The match will take place at the 88,000-seat MetLife Stadium just outside New York City. When: Wednesday at 3pm (19:00 GMT)
Where: MetLife Stadium, New Jersey The second semifinal features a mouthwatering European heavyweight matchup between PSG and Real Madrid. Nine-man Paris Saint-Germain advanced after defeating Bayern Munich 2-0 with goals from Desire Doue and Ousmane Dembele keeping the French side on track to achieve a historic quadruple of major titles in one season. Luis Enrique’s side needed to dig deep in front of 67,000 fans at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, after late red cards for Willian Pacho and Lucas Hernandez. Meanwhile, Gonzalo Garcia scored his fourth goal of the Club World Cup and Kylian Mbappe his first as Real Madrid beat Borussia Dortmund 3-2 in the final quarterfinal on Saturday. Garcia put Madrid ahead from close range early on during a hot afternoon at the MetLife Stadium, and Fran Garcia then doubled their lead before the midway point. Dortmund never seriously threatened a comeback before a remarkable late flurry of activity with Maximilian Beier pulling one back in the 93rd minute and superstar forward Mbappe registering Madrid’s third goal with a stunning overhead kick. Mbappe, who has battled illness for most of the CWC, will face his previous club PSG for the first time since he departed the Paris-based side for Real Madrid in June 2024. The final will be played on Sunday at the MetLife Stadium, which will also the venue for the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. The winning team in the Club World Cup could pocket as much as $125m in prize money. The #FIFACWC final four… BUY TICKETS | https://t.co/QE1Z92ZlhG pic.twitter.com/Qnyji7YLE0 — FIFA Club World Cup (@FIFACWC) July 5, 2025 Follow Al Jazeera English:...

Read this story on Aljazeera

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Healthwatch

Less Butter, More Plant Oils, Longer Life?

~3.1 mins read

Stepping up plant oils while pulling back on butter in our diet may help lengthen lives.

Not such good news for butter lovers like myself: seesawing research on how healthy or unhealthy butter might be received a firm push from a recent Harvard study published in JAMA Internal Medicine. Drawing on decades of data gathered through long-term observational studies, the researchers investigated whether butter and plant oils affect mortality.

One basic takeaway? "A higher intake of butter increases mortality risk, while a higher intake of plant-based oil will lower it," says Yu Zhang, lead author of the study. And importantly, choosing to substitute certain plant oils for butter might help people live longer.

What did the study find about butter versus plant oils?

The researchers divided participants into four groups based on how much butter and plant oils they reported using on dietary questionnaires. They compared deaths among those consuming the highest amounts of butter or plant oils with those consuming the least, over a period of up to 33 years.

Plant oils won out handily. A 15% higher risk of death was seen among those who ate the most butter compared with those who ate the least. A 16% lower risk of death was seen among those who consumed the highest amount of plant oils compared with those who consumed the least.

Higher butter intake also raised risk for cancer deaths. And higher plant oil intake cut the risk for dying from cancer or cardiovascular disease like stroke or heart attack.

While the study looked at five plant oils, only soybean, canola, and olive oil were linked with survival benefits. Swapping out a small amount of butter in the daily diet — about 10 grams, which is slightly less than a tablespoon — for an equivalent amount of those plant-based oils was linked with fewer total deaths and fewer cancer deaths, according to a modeling analysis.

How could substituting plant oils for butter improve health?

"Butter has almost no essential fatty acids and a modest amount of trans fat — the worst type of fat for cardiovascular disease," Dr. Walter C. Willett, professor of epidemiology and nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, noted by email.

By contrast, the plant oils highlighted in this study are rich in antioxidants, essential fatty acids, and unsaturated fats, which research has linked to healthier levels of cholesterol and triglycerides and lower insulin resistance.

Especially when substituted for a saturated fat like butter, plant oils also may help lower chronic inflammation within the body. Making such substitutions aligns with American Heart Association recommendations and current Dietary Guidelines for Americans for healthful eating that lower risk for chronic disease.

And for the butter lovers? "A little butter occasionally for its flavor would not be a problem," says Dr. Willett. "But for better health, use liquid plant oils whenever possible instead of butter for cooking and at the table." Try sampling a variety of plant oils, like different olive oils, mustard oil, and sesame oil, to learn which ones you enjoy for different purposes, he suggests. Additionally, a blend or mix of butter with oils — or sometimes a bit of butter on its own — can satisfy taste buds.

What about study limitations and strengths?

The study crunched data collected through a questionnaire answered every four years by more than 221,000 adults participating in the Nurses' Health Study, Nurses' Health Study II, and Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. As is true of all observational studies, this type of research can't prove cause and effect, although it adds to the body of evidence. Because most participants were white health care professionals, the findings may not apply to a wider population.

The researchers adjusted for many variables that can affect health, including age, physical activity, smoking status, and family history of illnesses like cancer and diabetes. The size of the study, the length of follow-up, and multiple adjustments like these are all strengths.

Harvard Health Publishing

Stay Connected!

Less Butter, More Plant Oils, Longer Life?

What did the study find about butter versus plant oils?

How could substituting plant oils for butter improve health?

What about study limitations and strengths?

Edo Poll: APC, PDP Confident As Supreme Court Holds Final Verdict

FIFA Club World Cup Semifinals: Qualified Teams And Full Schedule

Less Butter, More Plant Oils, Longer Life?

What did the study find about butter versus plant oils?

How could substituting plant oils for butter improve health?

What about study limitations and strengths?