One of the least appetizing meals you could imagine is a plain, dry sandwich or piece of toast, incomplete without a spread to bring it some flavor. Not only can the right spread elevate the flavor of your meal, but it can also help you to reach your weight loss goals if you opt for a food containing ample healthy fats and protein to speed up your metabolism.
However, just as the right spread can promote weight loss, the wrong choice can stand in your way, impeding on your health goals and even making it more difficult to burn fat. As you work to live a healthier lifestyle and enforce good decisions within your meals, this is the one spread you should be avoiding, and what to eat instead.
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While undeniably delicious and a staple for many breakfast dishes, butter is actually the worst spread to indulge in regularly if you’re aiming to lose weight. Although as with most foods, butter is fine in moderation and won’t do any lasting damage to your results, consistently slathering your toast, rolls, and even sandwiches in butter can begin to stand in the way of reaching your goals.
According to Healthline, “Butter is high in calories — packing about 102 calories into each tablespoon (14 grams). While this is fine in moderation, overdoing it can quickly cause extra calories to stack up. If you don’t make other dietary modifications to account for these excess calories, it could contribute to weight gain over time.” It may be difficult to keep track of the serving size, so if you do choose to use butter frequently, it can be useful to measure out your portion to ensure that you don’t overdo it and pack on unnecessary calories.
Although butter can have a slot in your lifestyle in moderation, even daily consumption can be too frequently, especially if you have weight loss goals you’re working towards. “Theoretically, adding just one serving per day to your diet without making any other changes could lead to approximately 10 pounds (4.5 kg) of weight gain over the course of a year,” writes Healthline. Seeing as butter is also high in saturated fat, opting for hummus, mashed avocado or even a natural nut butter to provide more nutritional value in your meal will be better options in the long run.
If you’re tactful about it, almost all of your favorite foods can work towards a healthy lifestyle within reason. However, if you struggle with eating in moderation, eliminating butter from your diet as you work to find a healthier balance may make it easier to reach your weight loss goals. You will feel much better in your body without being weighed down by sneaky calories and saturated fats, but remember, the best diet for you is one you can stick to!
