good substitute for butter?

[ktarsha]

I'm a huge fan of using butter, but I'm trying to cut back, since my husband recently learned that he has high cholesterol, and I'm pretty sure I do as well. I substitute olive oil for butter when I can, but sometimes it doesn't seem like it would be a satisfactory option. However, I really don't want to use margarine. So what is a healthy and good-tasting alternative to using butter?

[beanma]

Earth Balance is tasty though it does have some palm oil which is not great environmentally, but supposedly okay for your health.

To lower your cholesterol you'll do best to avoid too many carbs. Check out "Eat Drink and Be Healthy" by Walter Willet (head of Harvard's school of Public Health) for a moderate-radical approach to diet, as opposed to radical-radical like Weston A Price devotees or vegans or raw foodists. He still manages to turn the USDA Food Pyramid on it's head with tons of data from longitudinal studies without taking your diet somewhere you don't want to go.

I do try to avoid heaps of saturated fat, but I definitely don't go low-fat. A low fat diet is not actually good for lowering cholesterol levels. Low thyroid can also cause high cholesterol so be sure his doctor checks that out.

I'm sure you'll get lots of advice here!

[tanyam926]

I have read recipes that say you can substitute coconut oil for butter.

I agree w/the pp about reducing carbs, everything that I have read/know to be true/experienced says this.

[treemom2]

I substitute coconut oil for butter, lard, and hydrogenated oil in recipes. I also have used applesauce, pumpkin, and mashed banana in recipes that call for butter, oil, lard, and hydrogenated oils. On bread (when I eat it or serve it to the kids) I use nut butters, like almond butter in place of butter. However, I will use butter before I will use any type of margarine. . .I think butter is a much better and more natural thing to use than artificially (even naturally) flavored margarine alternatives. I agree with pp who have said that the real way to lower cholesterol in your blood is to decrease your intake of simple carbs (breads, flour, sugar, white rice, pasta, etc. . .). Increasing fiber intake by eating whole grains (barley, brown rice, oats, etc. . .)is also a great way to lower cholesterol. Mayo clinic told my parents to eat oatmeal every morning for breakfast to lower their cholesterol and it really worked for them. Also, when my DH was diagnosed with higher cholesterol, we started taking Red Yeast Rice supplements, cayenne supplements, garlic, Niacin (no flush), a good multivitamin, and Tumeric. Last time his was checked it was totally normal.

[ktarsha]

Thanks for the suggestions! I had forgotten about the possibility of using applesauce, etc., in baked goods. Never tried it, but I will. I don't intend to cut out butter entirely but I'm hopeful that reducing the amount that I use and replacing some of it with healthier alternatives will help.

Husband eats oatmeal for breakfast every day. I'm working on it, but I get tired of it after a few days. I've started adding more whole grains to our diet, as well.

[katiesk]

I substitute coconut oil for butter, lard, and hydrogenated oil in recipes. I also have used applesauce, pumpkin, and mashed banana in recipes that call for butter, oil, lard, and hydrogenated oils. On bread (when I eat it or serve it to the kids) I use nut butters, like almond butter in place of butter. However, I will use butter before I will use any type of margarine. . .I think butter is a much better and more natural thing to use than artificially (even naturally) flavored margarine alternatives

yep!!

[treemom2]

Originally Posted by ktarsha

Thanks for the suggestions! I had forgotten about the possibility of using applesauce, etc., in baked goods. Never tried it, but I will. I don't intend to cut out butter entirely but I'm hopeful that reducing the amount that I use and replacing some of it with healthier alternatives will help.

When you substitute applesauce, etc for oils in recipes they do tend to dry out a little faster. . .I'd start with just subbing 1/2 of the oil/butter in the recipe then increase if you think you can without ruining the recipe.

[Equuskia]

Also remember that women tend to have higher cholesterol than men because women birth and lactate. And your husband should avoid statins because of their many side effects, including diminished sex drive, and the curtailing of the enzyme COQ, an enzyme which helps protect the heart.

[paxye]

For baking I love using pumpkin or apple sauce to cut half or all the butter...

I also know that you can extend butter (and subsequently make it half the calories and fat) by beating 1 cup of softened butter with one cup or lukewarm water until light and fluffy...

I am pretty sure you can't use it in recipes(but I haven't tried) but you can use it for toast etc...

[PJsmomma]

When you bake with coconut oil, do you just use it in equal amounts?
For example to replace shortening in cookies, if it calls for 1/2 c. shortening, then I just use 1/2 c. coconut oil?

How does it turn out?

Also, I've used plain yogurt in breads to replace oil. I like that texture much better than applesauce.

[treemom2]

Originally Posted by PJsmomma

When you bake with coconut oil, do you just use it in equal amounts?
For example to replace shortening in cookies, if it calls for 1/2 c. shortening, then I just use 1/2 c. coconut oil?

How does it turn out?

Also, I've used plain yogurt in breads to replace oil. I like that texture much better than applesauce.

I use coconut oil in equal amounts to whatever amount of oil, butter, lard, shortening, etc. . .called for in the recipe. I find in cookies they turn out softer than when I use butter and have a slight coconut flavor. In breads, cakes they also turn out a little more moist.

I've never used yogurt in recipes. . .interesting, I'll have to try that!

[Devaskyla]

How much coconut flavour do you get doing that? I can't stand coconut, though dh & the kids like it. Also, where would I find coconut oil? I've never seen it.

[neverdoingitagain]

You can find coconut oil in any health food store. Refined co doesn't have a taste or coconut smell. virgin coconut oil(the good stuff) tastes like unsalted butter but smells like coconut. Or at least its supposed to.

OP- Has your dh has his thyroid checked? Strangley enough, I learned this weekend that a low thyroid (hypothyroidism) can increase LDL cholestrol levels.

[PaulaJoAnne]

Originally Posted by neverdoingitagain

You can find coconut oil in any health food store. Refined co doesn't have a taste or coconut smell. virgin coconut oil(the good stuff) tastes like unsalted butter but smells like coconut. Or at least its supposed to.

OP- Has your dh has his thyroid checked? Strangley enough, I learned this weekend that a low thyroid (hypothyroidism) can increase LDL cholestrol levels.

FOr the curious, cholesterol is not making your hormones, mainly because your thyroid is low, which is caused by low adrenals........Whew!!!

[neverdoingitagain]

Originally Posted by PaulaJoAnne

FOr the curious, cholesterol is not making your hormones, mainly because your thyroid is low, which is caused by low adrenals........Whew!!!

I'm stumped at what you mean here. Perhaps a word missing or mixed that would clear this up?

I found this article on thyroid/cholestrol connection
http://thyroid.about.com/cs/symptoms...holesterol.htm

[PaulaJoAnne]

Originally Posted by neverdoingitagain

I'm stumped at what you mean here. Perhaps a word missing or mixed that would clear this up?

I found this article on thyroid/cholestrol connection
http://thyroid.about.com/cs/symptoms...holesterol.htm

Say a person has high cholesterol. Rather then going the standard route of trying to lower it in hopes of preventing supposed heart disease, it is best to look at the thyroid and adrenals.
Low Adrenals lead to a low Thyroid, which often leads to high cholesterol.
Cholesterol is what makes the hormones in our bodies, but only if the thyroid and adrenals are functioning correctly.

Hence the reason I freak out when I hear of children being put on diets to lower their cholesterol.
This causes underdevlopment of the sex hormones, which is devistating as adulthood is achieved.

Hope this helps. Sorry the other post was so short. Dealing with another mc today.

[beanma]

I am sorry for your loss PaulaJo.

Low thyroid doesn't necessarily have to have anything to do with low adrenals, though. I have had hypothyroidism for 15 yrs and also have a family history of high cholesterol. I don't think adrenal fatigue is tied to my issues and, in fact, have high blood pressure (one of the symptoms of adrenal fatigue is low blood pressure and mine is anything but) which can also go along with hypothyroidism. My cholesterol recently came down 70 points when my thyroid meds were adjusted upward and I really concentrated on my diet (primarily low carb/starch, but lots of fruits and veggies, and plenty of non-saturated fat). I really think in my case that it was the medication adjustment that brought my cholesterol down since my diet wasn't that terrible to begin with. I'm not a Big Mac eater, y'know?

So, yes, I do think having a thyroid panel done would be a good idea, but also cut out as many starches as you can and don't avoid good fats. Plenty of fruits and veggies, too.

Good luck!

[RunnerDuck]

Originally Posted by ktarsha

Husband eats oatmeal for breakfast every day. I'm working on it, but I get tired of it after a few days. I've started adding more whole grains to our diet, as well.

I like oatmeal, but eating it every day gets old. Taking metamucil is supposed to help with cholesterol levels in the same way - 3+ grams of soluble fiber a day - it might be more workable. Kind of a back up for when you don't want oatmeal, and extra help for when you do have oatmeal.

[beanma]

You don't have to eat just a bowl of hot oatmeal. You can also do granola or other oatey yummies. I like granola better than hot oatmeal for mornings and, in fact, need to make some more.

[neverdoingitagain]

Originally Posted by PaulaJoAnne

Hope this helps. Sorry the other post was so short. Dealing with another mc today.

oh.

I'm sorry to hear that.