NRI surgeon calls for ban on butter

A leading NRI heart surgeon, has recommended a ban on intake of butter, as a diet survey pointed out that people in the UK eat "too" much of saturated fat, making them vulnerable to heart diseases.

A leading NRI heart surgeon, has recommended a ban on intake of butter, as a diet survey pointed out that people in the UK eat "too" much of saturated fat, making them vulnerable to heart diseases.

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Dr Shyam Kolvekar of University College London Hospital, said he was "increasingly concerned" about the nation's eating habits as he was seeing patients as young as 30 in need of heart-bypass surgery due to a diet "overloaded" with saturated fat.

According to a national diet survey, nine out of 10 children, 88 per cent of men and 83 per cent of women in Britain eat too much saturated fat.

Cutting saturated fat intake in line with Government recommendations could prevent 3,500 deaths per year.

"The amount of children who eat too much saturated fat really is astonishing. It's because most kids start the day with some toast and butter," he said.

By banning butter and replacing it with a healthy spread, the average daily saturated fat intake would be reduced by 8g - that's 40 per cent of a woman's guideline daily amount (GDA), he added.