As the world shifts towards more plant-based living, more and more vegan alternatives to dairy-based substitutes have been showing up in our supermarket shelves. But is vegan butter actually healthy?
Vegan butter
Whether you’re making the switch for health or environmental reasons, or just because nature’s pantry is already so big, you might have some questions surrounding plant-based alternatives. Today we’re looking at whether vegan butter is actually healthy.
What is vegan butter?
Traditionally, dairy-based butter is made from churning cow’s milk to separate the butterfat from the buttermilk, so that the fat can then be collected and turned into butter.
Plant-based butter isn’t that different a concept. Virtually any type of plant oil can do the same – think olive, avocado or even almond. The oil is often fortified with vitamins and minerals too. Read more about the process of making vegan butter here.
Is vegan butter healthy?
Vegan butter is generally lower in saturated fat because it doesn’t contain any animal products, as well as typically being higher in monosaturated fats that keep our heart healthy. If they’re fortified with added minerals and vitamins then all the better too!
Whilst vegan butter might not reach the territory of a ‘health food’ it can be said that it’s a healthier option than a dairy butter and should be enjoyed as part of a balanced diet.
Our favourite vegan butter
Discover what we thought of the leading ranges of vegan butter on the market here. Spoiler alert: our favourite is Flora Dairy Free Butter!
Keep your plant-based and health-related questions coming our way in the comments and we’ll do our best to answer them for you.
FAQs
Vegan butter is generally lower in saturated fat because it doesn't contain any animal products, as well as typically being higher in monosaturated fats that keep our heart healthy. If they're fortified with added minerals and vitamins then all the better too!
Is plant-based vegan butter healthy? ›
Q: Is Vegan Butter Healthy? A: Vegan butter can be a healthier option than traditional dairy butter, as it is typically made from plant-based oils instead of animal fats. However, not all vegan butter is created equal, and some may be highly processed or contain added ingredients like preservatives or emulsifiers.
How healthy is Flora plant butter? ›
Overall, plant-based butters generally provide healthier types of fats. However, as they shouldn't be a primary source of calories in your diet, choosing plant-based over regular butter alone is unlikely to significantly affect your health.
Is country crock plant-based butter healthy? ›
Is Country Crock® better for me than dairy butter? Country Crock® products are all made of plant-based oils – a source of good fats. Because Country Crock® is made with plant-based oils, the product is an easy way to add essential fats and omega-3s to a healthy diet.
What is the healthiest butter to eat? ›
Grass-fed butter offers some health benefits to counteract the health risks it poses. It appears to have lower levels of saturated fats and more unsaturated fats than standard butter. This is because grass-fed butter is made from the milk of cows that are allowed to graze instead of being fed high-grain diets.
Is vegan butter safe to eat? ›
Whilst vegan butter might not reach the territory of a 'health food' it can be said that it's a healthier option than a dairy butter and should be enjoyed as part of a balanced diet.
How long does vegan butter last? ›
Vegan butter usually lasts for around 3 to 4 weeks in the refrigerator once opened and used, as long as it's properly stored. If unopened, you can rely on the 'use by' date printed on the packaging. If you're freezing vegan butter, it can last up to 6 to 9 months.
Is vegan butter better than ghee? ›
Ghee is healthier: it contains better nutrients like healthy fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins. Ghee may support natural weight loss. Ghee offers support for maintaining a healthy colon. Ghee in the diet offers detox benefits for the body.
Does vegan butter raise cholesterol? ›
Plant-based butter is high in monounsaturated fats because they are prepared with plant-based oils instead of dairy. According to the American Heart Association, these fats are considered healthy fats that can help lower bad cholesterol and provide the body with essential minerals and antioxidants.
Which flora is the healthiest? ›
Flora Lighter has the great taste of Flora with only 25kcal per 10g serving. Perfect to melt onto jacket potatoes, smother onto toasted bread, and make healthy snacks, it's a delicious option for those looking for healthier, everyday swaps. Made with natural ingredients and free from palm oil.
Flora's Original and Salt Reduced margarine has 65% less saturated fat than Butter and Flora Light margarine has 75% less saturated fat than butter. Hence providing a healthier alternative to butter for those who watch their saturated fat intake.
What is the healthiest vegan butter? ›
Overall Winner:
- Miyoko's European Style Cultured Vegan Butter. This butter is the most like what you'd get straight from the farm: It comes in a block and has a consistency that is convincingly butter-like. ...
- Rich and Creamy Melt Organic Spread. ...
- Earth Balance Original Buttery Spread. ...
- Earth Balance Olive Oil Buttery Spread.
Plant Butter vs Butter
In terms of nutritional value, plant-based butter has some positives in that they contain less cholesterol than normal butter, but are just as dense calorically. Plant butter also contains more coloring and artificial flavoring than dairy butter.
What is the plant based butter lawsuit? ›
Country Crock Plant Butter class action:
Upfield US Inc. has been hit with a class action lawsuit alleging it falsely advertises its Country Crock Plant Butter vegetable oil spread as having more almond oil than it actually does. Plaintiff Joanne Reyes filed the class action lawsuit against Upfield US Inc.
Is I can't believe it's butter healthy? ›
The fact is, just because something is “real” does not necessarily make it good for you. The “real” ingredients that “I Can't Believe It's Not Butter” is touting are oils and salt. The ingredient list of “I Can't Believe It's Not Butter” reveals unhealthy ingredients like tropical oils and salt.
Is vegan butter a good substitute? ›
Many of the plant-based butters you find in the refrigerated section of the grocery store have a very close flavor and use profile to dairy butter, making them convenient substitutes for baking, cooking, and toppings.
Is smart balance butter healthy? ›
Great-tasting Smart Balance Buttery Spreads use absolutely no hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils. Instead, we use our unique natural oil blend that can help support healthy cholesterol levels already within the normal range.
Is plant-based butter keto friendly? ›
This plant-based butter recipe, however, won't let you down. It is creamy, rich, and super easy to make. You can spread it on Keto bread, cook with it, and even use it in Keto baking.
