Trying out "Branch"... so anyways, what is your opinion on added fat? I've been thinking a bit lately, and it seems like any added fat (refined oil) just adds calories without much nutrition. It seems that butter has been "given a pass" even though I haven't seen any evidence that it provides anything essential. More likely, butter just adds (excess) calories.

Thoughts?

I think there is nutrition in butter. However I also think that people tend to go way overboard with it and it becomes a source of added calories. The same is true for cream. I'll think more on this and write more later

I can't believe of the timin of this...
I just came out of my kitchen and was a little shocked
How much butter my wife and I consumed this weekend.
After Chris's post months ago I re read Jeff Ernos post and I started tracking calories closely also .

My fat numbers were way high on I was off by about 20-25 grams of protein for my daily estimate.

Yes the fat/oils I now believe need to be carefully monitored as they are a huge source of "empty"calories.

I do believe there's nutritional benefit to butter.... Perhaps a bit biased due to my Dutch blood.....
The poison is in the dose I think....
It would have to see more studies but butter is a very concentrated compound.... Like liver... Just don't think you need it in quantity.
Marc

I also think the refined nature of oils is a problem. For example, here's a study: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
where they show the more micronutrients put into food, the better the outcomes. For me, this translates into the idea that we are supposed to get our fat from FOOD.

For example, if you're getting dietary fat from eating meat, then there will be a natural ceiling on how much meat and therefore how much fat you can consume.

With butter or oil, I've noticed that if I add more to meal, that I do not necessarily eat less. You just consume the extra (fat) calories without any real increase in satiety. Of course, some fat helps with satiety but adding more and more doesn't seem to increase satiety.