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If you're a fan of croissants, buttery, grilled cheese sandwiches, and creamy, dairy-soaked mashed potatoes, it might be time to give up butter and other over-the-top dairy fats for better health. A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine looked at 30 years' worth of data on 200,000 folks and concluded that substituting canola, olive and soybean oils for around a tablespoon of butter a day lowers the risk of death from cancer and cardiovascular disease by about 17%. Just think what giving up all butter can do for your happy healthspan!

And if that's not enough of an incentive, a recent lab study indicates that even a few days of eating a high-fat diet is enough to cause brain inflammation and memory problems (especially in older folks). You might not be aware of how fat-loaded foods are. For example, 60% of calories in a McDonald's double smoky BLT quarter pounder with cheese or a Burger King double Whopper with cheese come from fat -- a lot of it, saturated fats (no olive oil anywhere!).

One warning: Eating lots of foods fried in vegetable oils is not good for your health. That can overload your system with inflammatory omega-6 fatty acids, and heated vegetable oils can form trans fats that increase your risk for heart disease, obesity, dementia and diabetes.

To discover how eliminating saturated fats and fried foods from your diet can transform your tomorrows, check out the free newsletter at LongevityPlaybook.com. And check out our book "YOU: On a Diet."

Health pioneer Michael Roizen, M.D., is chief wellness officer emeritus at the Cleveland Clinic and author of four No. 1 New York Times bestsellers. Check out his latest, "The Great Age Reboot: Cracking the Longevity Code for a Younger Tomorrow," and find out more at www.longevityplaybook.com. Email your health and wellness questions to Dr. Mike at questions@longevityplaybook.com.

(c)2023 Michael Roizen, M.D.

Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

(c) 2025 Michael Roizen, M.D. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.