If that\u2019s the case, it may just be you<\/em> that\u2019s misled. The fact is that butter is actually a very healthy addition to your diet plan \u2013 in moderation of course \u2013 and there are many reasons why you might choose to eat it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Butter has been a staple in many diets for many years all over the world and it was only until the recent years that it was really shunned because everyone became fearful of fats and saturated fats in particular.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was said that butter will quickly lead you down a path of heart disease and set you up for a heart attack. However, this information was misinformed. Now we have more research than ever illustrating that healthy fats can actually help combat<\/em> heart disease and position you for superior longevity \u2013 butter included.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Margarine was often seen as the \u2018superior\u2019 choice over butter as it didn\u2019t contain the saturated fat that butter did, but some margarine does contain an even worse fat \u2013 trans fats. The real trick to choosing healthy butter<\/em> is to opt for grass-fed butter. When butter is grass fed, it has a totally different nutritional profile because the cow\u2019s diet is far different as well. Grass-fed butter does still contain saturated fat, however, it is a healthy source of saturated fat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Want to know more? Read on. Let\u2019s go over why this form of fat is so beneficial and why you should add some butter to your meal plan guilt-free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Primer On Butter<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Before we talk about the benefits of grass-fed butter, let\u2019s make sure you know what it\u2019s all about. Butter is created by churning fresh cream, which then causes the butterfat to separate from the buttermilk, leaving you with two products: buttermilk and butter. Because it is primarily the fat that is found in this end product, that makes butter nearly 80% fat (as water is still found in this product) and contains a number of different fatty acids along with fat-soluble vitamins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When we are looking at grass-fed butter, this means that the cows used to produce the butter are fed a diet of grass rather than grain, making them healthier overall. Because they are healthier overall, their nutritional profile will change and they will give off fats that are of a different profile than grain-fed cows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Grass-fed butter tends to be more yellow than grain fed butter, which is whiter, so that\u2019s a notable difference that you want to remember.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In every tablespoon of grass-fed butter, you\u2019re going to get 100 calories and 11 grams of fat, with seven of those grams coming from saturated fat sources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ll also receive 30 mg of cholesterol, 500 IU\u2019s of vitamin A as well as a small dose of both vitamin E and vitamin K. All of these are fat-soluble vitamins, meaning your body is going to require dietary fat to absorb them properly in the bloodstream, which is helpful because this means they are already packaged together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you get the fat-soluble vitamins in foods that are very low in dietary fat (such as vegetables for example), it becomes very important that you are serving them with foods rich in dietary fats in order to ensure that they aren\u2019t just washed out of your system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So now that you know a bit more about butter, let\u2019s get to the info you need to know about the benefits it provides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Anti-Inflammatory Benefits<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Inflammation is one of the leading causes of diseases today and can be linked to things like heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis. While to some degree, inflammation may be hereditary, much of the inflammation we are seeing in today\u2019s culture comes as a result of poor lifestyle choices. People are eating far less healthy diets and are exercising even lesser than that, so the end result is the body begins revolting and you start seeing those high levels of inflammation creep up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you consume grass-fed butter however, you\u2019ll increase the amount of butyric acid you have present in your body and this acid is closely connected to states of inflammation. The more of it you have, the lower your inflammation tends to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Butter appears to be especially helpful in dealing with Crohn\u2019s disease1<\/strong><\/sup>, so if you are someone who is suffering from that condition, this is all the more reason to opt for butter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Improved Heart Health<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Next, on the list of great benefits to look forward to if you add a dab of grass-fed butter to your sweet potatoes or on top of your broccoli is improved heart health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is where butter really shines over heart disease, which is the exact opposite that many people would expect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Research has illustrated that when subjects consumed butter, they showed no correlation with heart disease while those who consumed margarine showed an increase<\/em>2<\/strong><\/sup>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This is going to be again due to the high intake of trans fats found in margarine and zero trans fats found in butter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now you might be thinking that the best way to avoid this is to just purchase margarine that has been made with no trans fats. One quick trip down your grocer’s aisle and you\u2019ll quickly come to find margarine of this variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As you are about to see, this would mean missing out on other great benefits grass-fed butter has to offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Improved Vitamin A Status<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n One thing that butter can really help you out with is improving your overall vitamin A status. Vitamin A is one of the important soluble fats in the body and is going to be responsible for keeping your vision in check, balancing your endocrine system (hormones), as well as for helping to maintain your teeth, bones, and soft tissues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s also important especially during pregnancy as well as when you are breastfeeding, so not a nutrient you can afford to be short in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Other good sources of vitamin A in the diet include beef liver, lamb liver, liver sausage, cod liver oil, salmon, Bluefin tuna, and goat cheese. As you can see, most people are not<\/em> eating these on a daily basis, therefore your vitamin A needs may be going unmet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While you can get them in supplemental form, the problem with doing so is that if you don\u2019t take in dietary fat while you are taking this vitamin, your body may not absorb the vitamin A as it should, thus you will still fall deficient. With butter, you get that fat in at the same time, therefore you don\u2019t have to worry about combining with food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Excellent Source Of Energy<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Another great benefit of grass-fed butter is that it does prove to be an excellent source of energy in the diet. Dietary fat is a good source of energy on its own being that it is so calorie dense, however with grass-fed butter, you get an extra benefit: Medium Chain Triglycerides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a special form of fat that is often found in coconut oil as well and works in the body more like a carbohydrate, however, it doesn\u2019t spike blood glucose levels. So you get a nice near-immediate boost to your energy (whereas regular fatty acids take a while to digest) but don\u2019t have that crash to worry about when the fats wear off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MCT\u2019s are one of the best fuel sources available for this reason, making grass-fed butter an excellent choice for anyone who is involved in athletics and needs a high level of energy on a regular basis. They\u2019re also great for those who may be suffering from diabetes and who can\u2019t have a lot of sugar in their diet plan due to their blood glucose regulation issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Diabetics may find if they rely on standard fats as a fuel source alone, they quickly run into issues with maintaining optimal energy levels. But<\/em>, if they are able to utilize MCT\u2019s instead, this problem subsides and they still maintain that glucose control they are after and keep their energy level up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Can Help Decrease Appetite<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Another benefit that MCT\u2019s bring is appetite control. This is both thanks to the fact that they are very calorie dense (in nature, since they are a dietary fat) and because they are delivering energy quickly in the body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you consume regular fat \u2013 say monounsaturated fat \u2013 you will get appetite control, but it will be slow<\/em> to come on. Dietary fat does not break down quickly in the body, so you don\u2019t notice it right away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, let\u2019s say you\u2019re starving right now and eat a handful of almonds. As almonds primarily contain dietary fat, you will feel fuller from them\u2026but probably not anytime within the next hour. It\u2019s going to take some time for the body to work on those fats and deliver the energy they contain to the tissue cells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the flip side, if you were to eat say a bowl of white rice, this energy is going to be released very rapidly in the body and therefore you will get the hunger control nearly immediately. You won\u2019t have to wait and will feel the effects of those carbs right away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This said the satiety will wear off quickly as well. So fast to come, fast to go. With the almonds, you will see satiety come on slowly, but when it does, you will feel fuller for hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With grass-fed butter, the MCT\u2019s come on fast, but then they also last. So they give you the best of both worlds. You\u2019ll get quick relief from your hunger and then stay satisfied for a long time to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rich Source Of CLA<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Another form of fatty acid you\u2019ll find in grass-fed butter that\u2019s important to note is CLA, which stands for conjugated linoleic acid. This form of fat is a very healthy form of fat and offers a few key benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 It helps to assist with the transport of fatty acids out of the fat cell and to the mitochondria where they can be burned as a fuel source<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 It helps to improve endurance during physical activity<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 It may help to provide protection against certain forms of cancer3<\/strong><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n Many people take CLA in supplemental form who are trying to improve their body composition and lose body fat, however by getting it naturally through grass-fed butter, you can reap the same great benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And while it may not cure cancer<\/em> or entirely prevent it, it can decrease your overall risk factor, which is worth noting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Can Help Improve Cholesterol Profile<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Many people are under the impression that all cholesterol is a bad thing. But the truth is, your body needs<\/em> some cholesterol to stay healthy. If you aren\u2019t getting in any, your hormones would begin to go haywire and you would not feel like yourself any longer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cholesterol is also an important nutrient for optimizing brain health as well as keeping your nervous system functioning as it should, so those are two additional reasons why it\u2019s important to have them in your menu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We always hear about how cholesterol is such a bad thing and will set us up for heart attack and heart disease, but few people ever take the time to educate the population on what too low of cholesterol can do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you aren\u2019t getting enough, you could actually be setting yourself up for higher risk of depression and anxiety, and may also notice that you have a harder time sleeping as you should.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Men need to especially take note because their cholesterol intake and saturated fat intake is closely connected to their natural testosterone release, so if they take their levels down too low, this could negatively impact this readings4<\/strong><\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This doesn\u2019t mean you should go feast on a burger and fries from the local fast food joint to ensure your cholesterol is high enough. This is just to let you know to not fear cholesterol and think you need to avoid it completely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Healthy forms of cholesterol like what\u2019s found in grass-fed butter can be a great thing in moderation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So there you have some of the important benefits of grass-fed butter to know about. It can be harder to find grass-fed butter than regular butter but it is very worthwhile to go through the trouble to seek it out. The nutritional profile of regular butter does not compare and it will not offer you nearly the same level of MCT\u2019s and CLA that grass-fed butter does. Likewise, the vitamin content will also be altered if you are choosing to get your butter from grain fed cows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As butter does contain calories, do remember to practice moderation. It is quite calorie dense at 100 per tablespoon, so if you aren\u2019t careful, it could quickly cause you to gain weight. Measure out how much you use and be sure to integrate it into your total daily calorie intake. Then you should be fine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Frequently Asked Questions<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n What are the benefits of grass-fed butter?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Grass-fed butter can help lower inflammation, improve brain health, regulate your mood and hormones, and help provide a long-lasting source of energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Does grass fed butter cause inflammation?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n No, the exact opposite. Grass-fed butter can help lower overall inflammation levels in the body and help protect you from disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Is grass-fed butter better than regular butter?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes, the differences in nutritional profiles are quite apparent between grass-fed butter and regular butter, so do make an effort to choose grass-fed whenever you can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Is grass-fed butter bad for cholesterol?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n No, in fact, eating grass-fed butter can improve your cholesterol and promote better overall heart health. The same cannot be said for regular butter, however.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Does grass fed butter taste different?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Grass-fed butter tends to have a richer taste than grain fed butter however most people find it just as good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n References:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. Sabatino, A. Di, et al. “Oral butyrate for mildly to moderately active Crohn’s disease.” Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics<\/em> 22.9 (2005): 789-794.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. Gillman, Mattheu W., et al. “Margarine intake and subsequent coronary heart disease in men.” Epidemiology (Cambridge, Mass.)<\/em> 8.2 (1997): 144-149.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. Dhiman, T. R., et al. “Conjugated linoleic acid content of milk from cows fed different diets.” Journal of dairy Science<\/em> 82.10 (1999): 2146-2156.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4. H\u00e4m\u00e4l\u00e4inen, E. K., et al. “Decrease of serum total and free testosterone during a low-fat high-fiber diet.” Journal of steroid biochemistry<\/em> 18.3 (1983): 369-370. When most people tell you they\u2019ve eaten butter, what do you think? Do you immediately judge them, thinking they\u2019re someone who must not care about a healthy diet plan? Do…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":150302238972,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[125,33,30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-150302238941","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-brain","category-health","category-nutrition"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.bioptimizers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/bigstock-Plate-Of-Butter-Wrapping-Ready-214973590.jpg\")
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