Everything You Need To Know About Plant Based Butter And The Best Vegan Butter Brands

  references & resources
  
      JAMA Internal Medicine: “Association Between Plant-Based Dietary Patterns and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis”
    
      American Heart Association: "Monounsaturated Fat"
    
      JAMA, "Association Between Plant-Based Dietary Patterns and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes"
    




Vegan butter seems like a healthier alternative to dairy butter, but it could pack just as much saturated fat as the real thing.

Image Credit: seb_ra/iStock/GettyImages

Image Credit: seb_ra/iStock/GettyImages

Since producing plant oils doesn’t require any cows, opting for plant-based butter might slightly reduce your overall environmental footprint. Worth noting, however: Palm kernel and coconut oil have also been linked to deforestation, which spells out bad news for animals that call tropical climates home.

Usually, saturated fat is found in animal products, but two exceptions are coconut and palm oils (two plant-based oils that vegan butters are often made of). Whether saturated fat from animal or plant products have the same cardiovascular effects remains a topic of great debate.

Plant-based butters can be a good alternative to butter for people looking to reduce their intake of dairy whether it be for cholesterol-lowering reasons or because they want to switch to a plant-forward diet. However, read nutrition labels to make sure your vegan butter is lower in saturated fat than butter if heart health is your concern.

Spread Miyoko's Creamery Vegan Butter on toast or pancakes or try it in homemade baked goods.

Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative

Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative

WayFare Dairy-Free Salted Whipped Butter boasts a similar airy texture to real whipped butter.

Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative

Country Crock Plant Butter spreads as smooth as the real thing.

Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative

I Can't Believe It's Not Butter It's Vegan boasts a low calorie and fat content.

Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative

      JAMA Internal Medicine: “Association Between Plant-Based Dietary Patterns and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis”
    
      American Heart Association: "Monounsaturated Fat"
    
      JAMA, "Association Between Plant-Based Dietary Patterns and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes"