Grass-Fed Butter: 7 Benefits that May Surprise You By Annie Price, CHHC January 2, 2017
https://draxe.com/nutrition/grass-fed-butter-nutrition/ Butter has been a staple in diets around the world for centuries, but is butter bad for you? Many people, and even many medical professionals, would quickly tell you that it is and that you have to reduce your intake or even avoid it all together, especially if you have high cholesterol or heart problems. But what if I told that high-quality, real butter is not only not bad for you in reasonable amounts, but that butter nutrition can actually be health-promoting in a variety of ways? In the United States, it’s estimated that butter consumption is around 550,000 tons per year. The European Union is actually much higher with a whopping 1.5 million tons (note the “million” before tons) of butter consumed annually. Yes, the European Union has about a third more inhabitants than the United States, but that still leaves people in the EU consuming a lot more butter on average. (1) Why is butter consumption so much lower in this country? I agree with the hypothesis that it’s most likely due to Americans still consuming margarine for its false health benefits. Butter nutrition, especially grass-fed butter nutrition, is truly impressive, and I’m excited to tell you all about how butter can actually be considered a healthy daily addition to your diet. What Is Butter Made Of? You’re likely familiar with butter, but do you ever wonder what is butter made of? When it comes to butter ingredients, there is only one. Butter is a dairy product created by churning fresh or fermented cream to separate the butterfat from the buttermilk. It’s about 80 percent fat and contains around 400 different fatty acids and a nice dose fat-soluble vitamins too. (2) Butter is most commonly sourced from cows, but it’s also possible to make butter from the milk of other mammals like goats, sheep, buffalo and yaks. The color of butter can range from almost stark white to deep yellow. Guess which one is healthier … You give up? It’s the yellow variety, which is the result of cows (or other mammals) being grass-fed. What happens is that when a cow lives on a diet primarily consisting of grass, the butter that is made from the cream of cows getting a diet rich in beta-carotene (the form of vitamin A found in plants). Nutrition Facts People often avoid butter because they’re concerned about the calories or carbs in butter nutrition. Spoiler alert: Butter has no carbs! When it comes to calories, let’s see just how many calories in grass-fed butter nutrition. Grass-fed butter nutrition is even more impressive than regular butter nutrition. For example, 14 grams of butter, which is just under a tablespoon at 0.93 tablespoon, contains about the following nutrients: (3)
100 calories
11 grams fat (with 7 grams saturated fat and 0 grams trans fat)
So butter may not provide you with protein or fiber, but it also doesn’t contain any sugar, carbs or health-hazardous trans fats. People are often terrified of saturated fat, but when saturated fat is obtained from healthy sources in moderation, like grass-fed butter and coconut oil, it provides the body much-needed fuel and helps with blood sugar stability. When it comes to cholesterol concerns, low cholesterol levels are worse than high for many people. Grass-Fed Butter vs. Ghee vs. Standard Butter Let’s look at how the different butter options like ghee and standard butter not sourced from grass-fed cows compare to grass-fed butter. I’ve written about ghee before, and I highly recommend it. Ghee has a unique nutrition profile without any lactose or casein, but it’s rich in short-chain and medium-chain fatty acids and butyrate. For people who are sensitive to lactose or casein, they can use ghee because the process has removed these allergens. If you’ve been told to stay away from dairy and butter, I personally would experiment with grass-fed ghee. Both butter and ghee contain medium- and short-chain fatty acids. Butter contains 12 percent to 15 percent medium- and short-chain fatty acids, while ghee contains 25 percent or greater. The body actually metabolizes these fats in a different manner than long-chain fatty acids. The result? Medium and short chains are not associated with cardiovascular disease. Ghee has a higher smoke point than butter so ghee is more stable at high heat. Meanwhile, grass-fed butter is better for baking and cooking at lower temperatures. What about grass-fed butter compared to your standard butter from grain-fed cows? Grass-fed butter nutrition is notably higher in many nutrients than butter from cows that are fed grain-based diets. Studies have shown that the milk from grass-fed cows is significantly richer in fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins. (4) This means that the butter made from the milk of grass-fed cows is also higher in all of this good stuff. Science has also shown that milk (and therefore butter) from grass-fed cows is higher in conjugated linoleic acid, a seriously healthy immune booster and disease fighter. (5) Overall, butter from grass-fed cows is simply a much healthier choice than standard butter.
Health Benefits 1. Anti-Inflammatory You won’t know this from reading any product label, but one of the highlights of butter nutrition, especially grass-fed butter nutrition, is its high level of butyric acid. This health-promoting acid is only found in a few foods, and butter is one of them. By consuming grass-fed butter, you directly increase your intake of butyric acid, which science has shown can decrease inflammation. One of the specific ways it has been shown to decrease inflammation is in the intestines of people with Crohn’s disease. (7) Inflammation is the root of most diseases, which is why having more butyric acid from grass-fed butter in your diet likely benefits many people with various inflammatory health problems. 2. Better for Heart Health A heart study published in the journal Epidemiology looked at the effects of butter and margarine on cardiovascular disease. What did researchers find? Margarine consumption increased the risk of coronary heart disease, while butter intake was not at all associated with coronary heart disease occurrence. (8) Another 16-year prospective study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2010 evaluated whether the intake of dairy products or related nutrients is linked with mortality due to cardiovascular disease (CVD). The researchers found that overall the intake of dairy products was not associated with dying from CVD or cancer. In comparison to the study subjects with the lowest full-fat intake of dairy products, the participants with the highest intake (median intake was 339 grams per day) actually had reduced death rate due to CVD after adjustment for calcium intake and other variables. (9) 3. Excellent Vitamin A Source One of the many beneficial vitamins we get from butter is vitamin A, which has a wide range of functions for our bodies. Grass-fed butter has even more vitamin A than regular butter thanks to the cow’s healthier grass-centric diet. Compared to standard butter, grass-fed butter can have 3 percent or more vitamin A per tablespoon. This might not sound like a lot, but over the course of a day and a lifetime, more vitamin A food consumption can really add up. 4. Energy-Boosting and Appetite-Suppressing MCTs You can get your dose of short- and medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) from butter, which are great for supporting your immune system and boosting metabolism. The MCTs found in butter (and coconut oil) are able to be converted immediately into fuel for your body’s muscles and organs. So instead of this fat being turned into fat in your body, MCTs are changed into something a lot more useful: energy. MCTs have also been shown to suppress the appetite, which is excellent for anyone who is looking to lose weight or just lower their overall calorie intake. 5. High in Anticancer CLA If your butter is sourced from cows that feed on green grass, it can contain high levels of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). This is a compound that potentially can help provide protection against different types of cancer and helps the body store muscle instead of fat. A 1999 study found that grass-fed cows had much high levels of CLA. Specifically, “cows grazing pasture and receiving no supplemental feed had 500% more conjugated linoleic acid in milk fat than cows fed typical dairy diets.” Wow, that’s a lot more CLA. (10) Thus, grass-fed butter is a potential cancer-fighting food. 6. Rich in Vital Cholesterol I’ve posted before about why your body needs cholesterol. Some of the most important reasons include the fact that cholesterol is needed for healthy cellular function. It’s also required to make key hormones and vital to brain and nervous system development and function. People don’t talk a lot about the scary side of having cholesterol that’s too low. You might not even be aware that low cholesterol may play a role in serious health problems like cancer, depression and anxiety. It’s also considered a risk factor for violent behavior, suicide and primary intracerebral hemorrhage, as well as low birth weight or premature birth in pregnant women. (11) Grass-fed butter in moderation offers an ample dose of daily cholesterol that can hopefully help you ward off all these major health concerns. 7. Source of Arachidonic Acid At study conducted on butter fat way back in 1934 at Ohio State University’s Laboratory of Physiological Chemistry showed how a “highly unsaturated acid” known as arachidonic acid (ARA) is found in butter. (12) Why is this significant? Studies have shown multiple health benefits associated with arachidonic acid. One study published in 2016 in the journal Nutrients focused on arachidonic acid’s essential role in infant development as well as immunity. ARA is a precursor to several of the human body’s signaling molecules that are extremely important to optimal immune response and, hence, overall immune system function. In addition, according to this recent research, “There is strong evidence based on animal and human studies that ARA is critical for infant growth, brain development, and health.” (13) How to Use The best butter:
Comes from grass-fed cows
Is organic
Is unsalted or sea-salted (unfortunately, many organic butters often use inferior salt rather than sea salt)
It’s pretty much a guarantee that your local health store has organic, grass-fed butter, and it now seems like pretty much every chain grocery store carries grass-fed butter these days as well. Finding butter that’s grass-fed, organic as well as made from raw milk can be trickier, but I would opt for it if you find it. It’s more likely that you’ll find cultured butter made from fermented milk. You also might be able to find some fresh grass-fed butter at your local farmer’s market. Unsalted butter is often far preferred for cooking while salted butter is the way to go when it comes to simple foods like a piece of buttered toast. Using salted butter in cooking can throw off the flavoring of your final products. This is especially true when it comes to baking when extra salt is not desirable. If you’re baking, you pretty much always want to opt for unsalted grass-fed butter unless the recipe says otherwise. You can use salted grass-fed butter in cooking when you’re actually looking to add some salt to your dish like with fish, meat, vegetables, stews and soups. Just make sure to leave out or use less sea salt to balance out the use of salted butter. Butter is solid at room temperature and liquid when heated. It’s not meant for high-heat cooking since its milk solids burn quickly. When you use it in cooking, butter adds richness. Many cooks suggest that you balance this richness with the addition of an acidic, clarifying ingredient like lemon juice. The culinary uses for butter are quite endless. I also love these seven uses for butter, which are sure to surprise you. Risks and Side Effects Lactose intolerance is defined as the inability to digest lactose, the sugar primarily found in milk and dairy products. It’s caused by a shortage of lactase in the body, an enzyme produced by the small intestine that’s needed to digest lactose. Some people who are mildly lactose-intolerant do fine with butter because it only contains trace amounts of lactose, but if you’re really bothered by lactose, then it’s a good idea to avoid butter. Instead you can opt for clarified butter (ghee) because it contains even less lactose than butter or no lactose at all. Final Thoughts Real butter from grass-fed cows is actually an awesome, healthy food that offers a lot more benefits than you would expect. The term “healthy butter” is especially true when you purchase butter that is grass-fed and organic. Bonus points if it’s also from raw milk and local. Grass-fed butter nutrition is certainly better than processed, fake margarine, and grass-fed butter benefits include its anti-inflammatory, heart-healthy, energy-boosting, appetite-suppressing prowess. Of course, you have to buy what you can afford and what you have access to, but when you can, I hope you’ll opt for the healthiest butter option possible! Just like grass-fed beef, grass-fed butter provides a wealth of delicious ways to improve your health.
7 Health Benefits of eating Grass Fed Butter Summary fromhttps://www.healthline.com/nutrition/grass-fed-butter 1. More nutritious than regular butter Grass-fed butter is higher in omega-3 fatty acids. These are thought to have anti-inflammatory properties and have been linked to many health benefits. One analysis found that grass-fed butter provides about 26% more omega-3 fatty acids than regular butter, on average (7Trusted Source))
In addition to boasting a healthier fat profile, grass-fed butter is believed to be much richer in vitamin K2, which plays an important role in bone and heart health.
2. A good source of vitamin A Vitamin A is fat-soluble and considered an essential vitamin. This means your body cannot make it, so it must be included in your diet.
3. Rich in beta carotene Beta carotene is a well-known and potent antioxidant. Antioxidants help defend your cells from potential damage caused by unstable molecules called free radicals (17Trusted Source, 18Trusted Source). A wealth of observational studies have associated a higher intake of foods rich in beta carotene to a reduced risk of several chronic diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer.
4. Contains vitamin K2 Vitamin K2 is a lesser-known but important nutrient. Also known as menaquinone, it’s mainly found in fermented foods and animal products, including grass-fed butter
Vitamin K2 helps support bone health by signaling your bones to absorb more calcium. Several studies have found that people who consume more vitamin K2 tend to experience fewer bone fractures (25Trusted Source, 26Trusted Source, 27Trusted Source). Vitamin K2 also helps remove excess calcium from your bloodstream, which may help prevent harmful calcium deposits and plaque from building up in your blood vessels (28Trusted Source). In a large population study involving 4,807 people, high intake of vitamin K2 (32 mcg per day) was associated with a 50% reduction in risk of death from heart disease.
5. High in unsaturated fatty acid Unsaturated fats include monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. These types of fats have long been considered healthy, as studies have consistently linked them to heart health benefits. Strong scientific evidence shows that replacing some of the saturated fat in your diet with unsaturated fat may help reduce your risk of heart disease (31Trusted Source). One easy way to do this is by replacing your regular butter with grass-fed butter.
6. Contains conjugated linoleic acid Grass-fed dairy products, particularly grass-fed butter, are believed to be especially high in CLA. Studies suggest that CLA may have several potential health benefits.
7. Easy to add to your diet Ultimately, grass-fed butter may be a relatively nutritious replacement for regular butter.
WHY RAW Grass-fed BUTTER? Written by Sashuma - the woman who works with the farmers to bring this butter to us.
"Raw butter has large quantities of intact fat soluble vitamins A, D, K and E (in addition to the incredible array of fatty acids, in particular short chain fatty acids and CLA) that are not destroyed by heat pasteurization and homogenization. It has enzymes like lipases that help you digest the butter better. Just like an avocado. It has the powerful Wulzen factor intact. This is the anti-arthritic factor researcher Rosalind Wulzen discovered in raw dairy that enabled calves to survive and thrive, while calves fed pasteurized dairy died. It is a rich source of minerals like iodine. Today's hypothyroid, fluoridated, chlorinated, brominated, irradiated, mercury toxic, aluminum laden, hyper-vaccinated population needs butter. Butter has antiviral, antibacterial, that is, anti-infective properties. It has detoxing properties. It is an anticancer fat. For many people who are allergic to pasteurized dairy, raw dairy is perfectly digestible. Not just digestible, but frequently life giving and lifesaving. The proteins, fats and enzymes are not denatured. Your body recognizes them and is able to assimilate them very well. For chronic disease of any kind - digestive, neurological, cardiovascular, arthritic or mental, there is nothing like raw butter. Children on the spectrum thrive on raw butter. Accident and burn victims heal vastly faster on raw butter. Pregnant women, the elderly, and the immunocompromised feel better on raw butter. Raw butter is heart food, fertility food, nursing mum food, baby food, brain food, auto-immunity food, heavy metal chelating food, skin food and digestive food. It is live food, and a critical part of a natural therapy in curing damage from heavy metal poisoning, antibiotics and other toxic substances in our environment.
Note, unlike pharmaceuticals, butter requires a huge comparative ongoing investment into an unpatented (and unpatentable) product with thin margins. Our farmers tend to their cows - live animals - for years and years, feed them, care for them through sickness and health, in order to get the grass converted to some butter for us. You cannot take shortcuts in this relatively expensive, slow process. You cannot goose up results with antibiotics, cheap additives (such as GMO soy) if the quality is to remain high. You cannot fake and adulterate the product easily. The margins are thin and marketing dollars few. To tell you the truth, I am a little horrified our farmer has been giving us this price break. I did not ask for it.
Butter is medicine that is far superior to say Statins. But the key to having such products here is giving our farmers a stable, reliable estimate of what we are seeking year over year. We need our FARMERS to get rich, not middlemen, or fake food producers. I take no commissions, and will carry on doing this on a volunteer basis. What I need is committed folks on the other side, who know exactly what they want, and will sign up to good health and good food promptly. This so we have a long term relationship between like-minded farmers and consumers. I am hoping that if we nurture our relationship with this farmer, we can continue to order this raw butter for years to come.
Those who have tried it, know raw butter as nature's gift to mankind. This is spring butter and has especially high amounts of fat soluble vitamins. Raw butter is today's forgotten medicine - a unique medicine with only side benefits - no side effects."