Bon appétit, pronounced bo na pay tee, is regarded all over the world as a polite wish to “have a good meal.” Oxford Dictionary calls it broadly “a salutation to a person about to eat.” The literal meaning, “good appetite,” has scant bearing on the intended wish; people these days place more importance on the quality …

Cancer

The French paradox is the observation of low coronary heart disease (CHD) death rates despite high intake of dietary cholesterol and saturated fat. The French paradox concept was formulated by French epidemiologists3 in the 1980s. France is actually a country with low CHD incidence and mortality (table 1​).

On the other hand, lower saturated fat (meat) and higher n3 polyunsaturated fat (fish) in the Japanese diet may contribute to the lower prevalence of hypercholesterolemia and lower risk of coronary heart disease among Japanese.

African countries have the lowest cholesterol, some as low as 4 mmol/L. Among western high-income countries, Greece has the lowest cholesterol for both men and women (below 5 mmol/L). USA, Canada, and Sweden also had low cholesterol.

Nutrition and healthy eating Margarine usually tops butter when it comes to heart health. Margarine is made from vegetable oils, so it contains unsaturated “good” fats — polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats.

In general, the following foods work best as butter replacements in cakes, muffins, cookies, brownies, and quick breads:

• Applesauce. Applesauce significantly reduces the calorie and fat content of baked goods.
• Avocados.
• Mashed bananas.
• Greek yogurt.
• Nut butters.
• Pumpkin purée.

Light margarine contains less saturated and trans fat than regular margarine. A spread with heart-healthy plant sterols or stanols; 2 grams per day can help lower LDL cholesterol if your diet is low in saturated fat and cholesterol. This light margarine has fewer calories and fat than regular margarine.

Researchers found that one bad dietary fat in particular—saturated fat, found in foods such as red meat and butter—may be especially harmful to your brain.

Butter is high in saturated fat, which can raise your bad cholesterol and make heart disease more likely. You’re better off to replace butter with olive oil or vegetable oil-based spreads, which contain heart-healthy mono- and polyunsaturated fats.

Butter is rich in nutrients and beneficial compounds like butyrate and conjugated linoleic acid. High-fat dairy products like butter have been linked to a reduced risk of obesity, diabetes, and heart problems. Still, butter is high in calories and saturated fat and should be enjoyed in moderation.