Fats and oils
Unsalted butter
Unsalted butter packs 717 kcal into 100 g (3.5 oz), so a typical 10 g (0.4 oz) serving already adds up to about 72 kcal.
Estimated satietyHow it is calculated
Estimated satiety: 1 out of 5
| Starting point | +1 |
|---|---|
| Very high energy density: 717 kcal/100 g | −2 |
| Protein: 0.1 g/100 kcal | 0 |
| Fiber: 0.0 g/100 kcal | 0 |
| Solid food with 16.2 g of water, under 70 | 0 |
| Sum | −1 |
| Raised to the minimum of 1 | 1 |
Our own estimate from the values per 100 g: useful for comparing foods with each other, not a measurement in people. Holt index (1995): this food was not measured.
- Prepared by
- Alex Gonzalez
- Last updated
- Next review
- Sources
- 9 primary
- Data
- USDA FDC 173430
No clinical review. No advertising from drug companies and no affiliate links.How we work
Nutrition facts
- Calories
- 72 kcal per serving
- 717 kcal per 100 g (3.5 oz)
- Protein
- 0.1 g per serving
- 0.9 g per 100 g (3.5 oz)
- Carbohydrates
- 0 g per serving
- 0.1 g per 100 g (3.5 oz)
- of which sugars
- 0 g per serving
- 0.1 g per 100 g (3.5 oz)
- Fiber
- 0 g per serving
- 0 g per 100 g (3.5 oz)
- Fat
- 8.1 g per serving
- 81.1 g per 100 g (3.5 oz)
- of which saturated
- 5.1 g per serving
- 50.5 g per 100 g (3.5 oz)
- Water
- 1.6 g per serving
- 16.2 g per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Source: USDA FoodData Central: Butter, without salt (FDC ID 173430), accessed September 23, 2026.
A typical 10 g (0.4 oz) serving provides about 72 kcal, 0.1 g of protein, and 0 g of fiber.
What it is and how to eat it
The DLE, the Spanish-language dictionary, defines mantequilla as the product obtained from milk or cream by agitation or churning, and defines manteca, in its first sense, as the product of churning the cream of milk, although manteca is also animal fat, especially pork fat. In the EU, butter must contain at least 80% and less than 90% milk fat, with a maximum of 16% water (Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013). This page covers unsalted butter according to USDA, with 717 kcal, 81.1 g of fat, 50.5 g of it saturated, and 16.2 g of water per 100 g.
A 10 g serving, two of the 5 g pats USDA uses as a measure, provides 72 kcal and 8.1 g of fat, and almost no protein. The 2025 nutrition advisory on GLP-1 therapy suggests avoiding fatty foods in the first few days of treatment, notes that foods high in protein or fat can further slow gastric emptying, and lists plant oils, such as olive oil, among the foods to encourage. A thin layer on bread or vegetables is enough for flavor, and olive oil can stand in for it in cooking.
What the evidence says
Its 50.5 g of saturated fat per 100 g supply 63% of its energy, and 10 g add up to 5.05 g, almost a quarter of the roughly 22 g that equal 10% of energy on a 2,000 kcal diet, the maximum WHO recommends (my calculation). WHO lists butter among the sources of saturated fat and suggests replacing it with oils rich in polyunsaturated fat, such as soybean, canola (rapeseed), corn, safflower and sunflower oils. With 684 µg of vitamin A per 100 g, almost all of it as retinol, it far exceeds the 240 µg for "high vitamin A", but 10 g provide 68 µg, about 9% of the 800 µg reference value (Regulations (EC) No 1924/2006 and (EU) No 1169/2011). With USDA's figures and Mexico's NOM-051, I calculate that it would exceed the profiles for the "EXCESO CALORÍAS" (excess calories) seal, with 717 kcal per 100 g, above 275, and the "EXCESO GRASAS SATURADAS" (excess saturated fat) seal, with 63% of its energy, above 10%, although the standard exempts vegetable oils and vegetable or animal fats from those seals.
Satiety
The 1 to 5 score is our own estimate: it starts at 1 point, adds points for low energy density, for protein and fiber per 100 kcal, and for the water in solid foods, and subtracts points for drinks with calories. It is useful for comparing foods with each other; it is not a measurement in people.
What to keep in mind on a GLP-1 medication
Frequently asked questions about unsalted butter
How many grams of protein are in a 10 g (0.4 oz) serving of unsalted butter?
100 g (3.5 oz) of unsalted butter has 0.9 g of protein. A typical 10 g (0.4 oz) serving has about 0.1 g of protein. That is 0.1 g of protein per 100 kcal.
How many kcal are in a 10 g (0.4 oz) serving of unsalted butter?
100 g (3.5 oz) of unsalted butter has 717 kcal. A typical 10 g (0.4 oz) serving has about 72 kcal. That is a very high energy density.
Does unsalted butter keep you full?
Barely filling for the calories it provides: our estimated satiety score is 1 out of 5. Calculation: 1 (base) − 2 (very high energy density: 717 kcal/100 g) + 0 (protein: 0.1 g/100 kcal) + 0 (fiber: 0.0 g/100 kcal) + 0 (solid food with 16.2 g of water, under 70) = −1; raised to the minimum of 1. It is an estimate based on its composition, not a measurement in people.
How does unsalted butter fit into eating on Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, or Zepbound?
Based on our tags, this is what matters about unsalted butter on a GLP-1 medication. “High energy density”: a lot of energy in a small volume; when your appetite is very low, a small serving can help you meet your needs. These are general guidelines, not medical advice: everyone tolerates foods differently.
What is a typical serving of unsalted butter?
We use 10 g (0.4 oz) as a typical serving. That amount provides about 72 kcal, 0.1 g of protein, and 0 g of fiber. It is a reference for calculations, not a recommendation of how much to eat.
Compare with…
Similar foods
Sources
Sources for the data on this page, with the access date.
- Official databaseU.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service.USDA FoodData Central: Butter, without salt (FDC ID 173430).accessed .
- InstitutionRoyal Spanish Academy and Association of Academies of the Spanish Language (RAE-ASALE).Diccionario de la lengua española (Dictionary of the Spanish Language, 23rd ed., online version): "mantequilla" (in Spanish).accessed .
- InstitutionRoyal Spanish Academy and Association of Academies of the Spanish Language (RAE-ASALE).Diccionario de la lengua española (Dictionary of the Spanish Language, 23rd ed., online version): "manteca" (in Spanish).accessed .
- RegulatorOfficial Journal of the European Union (EUR-Lex).Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 establishing a common organisation of the markets in agricultural products (Annex VII, Appendix II, spreadable fats).accessed .
- Clinical guidelineObesity (Wiley).Mozaffarian D, et al. Nutritional priorities to support GLP-1 therapy for obesity: A joint Advisory from the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, the American Society for Nutrition, the Obesity Medicine Association, and The Obesity Society. Obesity. 2025;33(8):1475-1503. doi:10.1002/oby.24336.accessed .
- InstitutionWorld Health Organization.Healthy diet (fact sheet, section on fats).accessed .
- RegulatorOfficial Journal of the European Union (EUR-Lex).Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 on nutrition and health claims made on foods (Annex).accessed .
- RegulatorOfficial Journal of the European Union (EUR-Lex).Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers (Annex XIII, nutrient reference values).accessed .
- RegulatorDiario Oficial de la Federación (Ministry of Economy and Ministry of Health, Mexico).Modificación a la Norma Oficial Mexicana NOM-051-SCFI/SSA1-2010 (Mexico's labeling standard for prepackaged foods and non-alcoholic beverages), Diario Oficial de la Federación, March 27, 2020; sections 4.5.3 and 4.5.3.3, Table 6 and second transitory article (in Spanish).accessed .