So when people ask me why I use olive and coconut oils in my products instead of butter, my answer is simple - I don't want to kill my customers.

Olive Oil

A recent study, reported in the Annals of Internal Medicine, July 4, 2006, revealed that olive oil is associated with a reduction in mortality. Olive oil, a potent source of monounsaturated fatty acids, was proven to have a beneficial effect on cardiovascular risk factors by reducing blood cholesterol levels.

Other research suggests that extra-virgin olive oil, considered the best and least processed of all olive oils, may also offer benefits in terms of colon cancer prevention. Spanish scientists discovered that rats fed a diet supplemented with olive oil, had colon cancer rates almost as low as those fed fish oil, which many studies have already linked to a reduction in colon cancer risk.

It has been known for many years that people who store fat around their mid-section have a higher risk of heart disease than those who store fat in their hips and thighs. Studies on this have concluded that, when part of a healthy diet, moderate amounts of extra-virgin olive oil helps reduce excess body fat, especially around the abdomen. This goes hand-in-hand with the fact that olive oil helps reduce the risks of cardiovascular disease.

Coconut Oil

For many years it was believed that coconut oil, a saturated fat, was bad for you. It was put into the category of butter and erroneously labeled. However, today, after much observation and research, evidence shows that coconut oil and extra-virgin coconut oil reduces your risk of heart disease, promotes weight loss, supports your immune system, reduces your risk of cancer, supports healthy metabolism, helps keep skin healthy, prevents infections due to harmful bacteria and viruses, and supports proper functioning of the thyroid gland.

As if this list weren't enough, incredibly, coconut oil contains the same compound, lauric acid, as mother's milk. Lauric acid has been indicated as a protector against viruses like influenza, measles, HIV, and herpes. Lauric acid is also known to inactivate bacteria like strep and staph, gonorrhea, and salmonella.

It's Like Butter But Better

The proof leaves little doubt that these oils are extraordinary powerhouses. So why do I use olive and coconut oil instead of butter? Because the oils make my products moist and tender, just as butter does, but much more delicious and nutritious.