Here’s Why I Eat Grass Fed Butter Every Day. Do You?
Did you know that eating grass fed butter could be a game changer for your health? Yes butter, especially grass-fed butter can be a beneficial part of your daily diet. It is loaded with nutrients and fat-soluble vitamins, and has so many health benefits that can’t be overlooked.
What Is Grass Fed Butter?
So what is grass fed butter, and how is it different from regular butter? By definition, grass-fed butter is made from the cream of grass-fed cows. Grass fed cows eat primarily grass, unlike grain-fed cows, which are typically fed a diet of grains and supplemental feed. When dairy cows eat a diet consisting primarily of grass, their diet is high in beta-carotene, or vitamin A that is found in plants. The result is that grass-fed dairy products (butter) is significantly higher in nutrients, fatty acids, and fat-soluble vitamins (source).
Butter is made by churning or whipping cream until the butterfat separates from the buttermilk. Once all of the buttermilk is squeezed out of solid portion (butterfat), you have butter! Salt can be added, or not at this point. Butter should only have cream, and potentially salt as the 1 or 2 ingredients.
The Benefits of Grass-Fed Butter
There are so many nutritional benefits of grass fed butter. Here are a few important ones:
It’s a Great Source of Vitamin A
Our bodies need Vitamin A for all kinds of different functions, and grass fed butter is one of the richest and most absorbable sources of Vitamin A readily available to humans. Compared to standard butter, grass-fed butter can have up to 3% or more Vitamin A per tablespoon.
Grass-Fed Butter is Anti-Inflammatory
Grass-fed butter is high in butyric acid, which is only found naturally in a few foods. This specific acid is really good for digestion, and has anti-inflammatory properties. Additionally, the healthy fats and antioxidants found in butter have been proven to reduce inflammation as well (source).
Since inflammation is the root of many chronic diseases today, grass-fed butter is a great addition to your diet.
High in CLA
Grass-fed butter is high in conjugated linoleic acid, which is an important compound that can potentially protect against cancer, as well as improving body composition. Some studies also show that it may improve immune function. CLA is a naturally occurring omega-6 fatty acid that our bodies can’t make by themselves, so we have to get it from the foods we eat. Grass-fed meat and dairy contain up to 500% more CLA’s than conventional grain-fed cows (source)!
Grass-Fed Butter Has Lots of (Good) Cholesterol
Did you know that our cells need cholesterol to function properly (source)? We also need cholesterol for hormone production, brain development, digestive system function, and nervous system function.
Good Source of Arachidonic Acid
Arachidonic acid is found in butter… but what on earth is it, and why does it matter? Back in 1934, scientists discovered this acid in butter and called it a “highly unsaturated acid” (source). Since then, arachidonic acid (ARA) has been found to have many health benefits. Among them, some of the most significant are the role ARAs play in infant development, immune system function, brain development and overall growth.
The Importance of Vitamin K
Weston A Price was a dentist and researcher who traveled around the globe studying different cultures, looking specifically for the ones that had good health, perfect teeth, and strong facial structures. He found that the healthiest people who often had perfectly straight teeth, and wide attractive faces all consumed grass fed butterfat, organ meats, animal fats (specifically from grass fed animals) and fish eggs. It turns out, that the common theme in all of these foods is that they are high in vitamin K2. Grass-fed butter is an excellent way to boost vitamin k2 intake. You can read more about his work in his book, “Nutrition and Physical Degeneration”.
Vitamin K2 also activates the function of other vitamins, like vitamin d and vitamin a (which grass-fed butter is also high in) which are crucial vitamins for development.
High in Energy Boosting MCTs
MCTs are medium and short-chain triglycerides, which are great for boosting metabolism and supporting immune system function (source). The MCTs found in butter are great because they can be converted quickly to energy in the body. Essentially these are fat that aren’t stored as fat in your body, they are used for energy. They also may suppress appetite, and keep you feeling full longer.
Coconut oil also has these energy boosting MCTs.
Grass Fed Butter vs Conventional Butter
This difference in animal diet plays a really important role in the composition of the milk fat as well as the nutritional profile of the butter. The nutritional profile of grass fed butter is far superior to the butter from grain-fed cows!
Compared to conventional butter, grass fed butter has:
- 5 times the amount of CLA (conjugated lineoleic acid) as grain-fed butter
- More omega 3, 6, and 9 fatty acids than grain fed butter. Not only that, but grass fed butter has a better omega 3 to omega 6 ratio.
- More butyric acid
- Higher levels of fat-soluble vitamins k, a and d
You can see the nutritional benefits of grass fed butter compared to conventional butter. The other factor to consider when purchasing milk and cream from grain-fed cows, is that often the grain they are fed is genetically modified. GMO foods have been linked to several health conditions.
The Problem with Butter Substitutes
Butter is good for you when it’s real, grass-fed butter… but many of the butter substitutes sold today can be really detrimental for your health. They are marketed as healthier alternatives, but often they contain damaging seed oils, chemicals, and preservatives that are much worse for you than the real thing. Even if they don’t, they are probably highly processed.
Here are a few examples of butter substitutes and the ingredients that are in them:
Margarine: Well known and highly marketed as a healthier alternative to butter, margarine is made primarily out of vegetable oils. Vegetable oils are highly processed oils that are often hydrogenated, heated to unsafe temperatures, and have chemicals added to alter their appearance and flavor.
Ingredients: Vegetable Oil Blend (palm oil, palm kernel oil), Soybean Oil, Water, Buttermilk, Contains Less Than 2% of Salt, Potassium Sorbate (to preserve freshness), Soy Lecithin and Mono and Diglycerides (emulsifiers), Lactic Acid, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Vitamin A Palmitate, beta-Carotene (color). CONTAINS: Milk
Plant-Based Butter: Plant based / vegetarian diets are popular in some circles. Plant based butter also uses vegetable oils as a base, and also has “natural flavor” which is an ambiguous blanket term and typically includes synthetic chemicals.
Ingredients: Blend of Plant-based Oils (Palm Fruit, Palm Kernel, Canola and Olive Oil), Water, Salt, Pea Protein, Soy Lecithin, Citric Acid, Vitamin A Palmitate, Natural Flavor, Beta Carotene (Color).
Vegetable Oil Sticks / “I can’t believe it’s not butter”: These types of butter alternative are marketed as a cheaper and healthier spread than traditional butter. But as the name implies, they are primarily made of vegetable oils which are one of the worst things you can put in your body.
Ingredients: Vegetable Oil Blend (Palm, Soybean, and Palm Kernel Oils), Water, Salt, Distilled Monoglycerides, Soy Lecithin, Potassium Sorbate and Calcium Disodium EDTA (Used to Protect Quality), Pea Protein, Citric Acid, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Vitamin A Palmitate, Beta Carotene (Color).
I’ll stick with the real thing, thank you very much!
What the Color of Butter Can Tell You
Did you know that you can tell how nutrient dense butter is, by the color? The color of butter can range from white to a deep rich yellow. The more yellow the butter, the more nutrient dense it is! Grain-fed butter is much more white in color, and may have a more “waxy” texture. Grass-fed butter on the other hand, is a beautiful yellow color and has a wonderful creamy texture. The grass-fed butter is yellow from the carotene found in the grass that makes up the majority of the cow’s diet.
Why Grass-Fed Butter is Good For Kids
My husband thinks I’m a little crazy, but when my kids ask for a chunk of butter for a snack I usually give it to them. In my mind, it’s an incredibly nutrient dense snack that is giving them so many important things for their development. I also love to give them snacks that are simple in ingredients and aren’t heavily processed. Butter = win win!
But when looking at the actual science, real grass fed butter is so good for kids and their development! The vitamin K2 found in butter plays a crucial role in the development of facial bones, facial structure, and teeth. It also prevents cavities, is great for heart health, and strong bones. Kids also need good cholesterol, CLA, and Arachidonic acid.
Kids who don’t get enough butter and all of the vitamins in butter may not grow as tall as they would when consuming butter (source). Isn’t that interesting?
Where To Find Grass Fed Butter
Okay, so now where do you find grass fed butter? I think the ideal would be butter made from raw cream, because compared to pasteurized milk, raw milk is much more nutrient dense. If you have a farmer near you that sells raw milk (or cream), you can make your own really easily. All you need is a blender!
If this isn’t an option for you, many health food stores and grocery stores sell grass-fed butter, although it is most likely made from pasteurized cream so it will lose some of the benefits of raw milk. Kerrygold and Vital farms grass-fed butter can be found in most grocery stores. It is important however, to do your research on the brands that you buy, because the term “grass-fed” is not regulated by the FDA, so unfortunately it’s not a guarantee that what you are buying is truly grass-fed. The color is a great indicator though, so if your butter is yellow, rich and creamy, it most likely is grass-fed.
How To Eat More Grass-Fed Butter
If you are convinced and want some ways to incorporate more grass-fed butter into your diet, there are all kinds of ways to accomplish this. Here are a few ideas to try:
- Don’t be afraid to spread it THICK on your toast & pancakes
- Use it as a cooking oil. Cook your eggs, veggies, and meat in butter.
- Add it to your oatmeal for a creamy and nutritional boost
- Put butter on dates, and sprinkle with sea salt for a sweet treat
- Top your grass-fed steak with butter
How else do you like to eat grass-fed butter?
In Conclusion – Grass-Fed Butter Is Superior!
If you’re looking to boost your health with a simple change, why not start by swapping out your regular butter for grass-fed butter? With its rich nutritional profile and numerous benefits, it’s a delicious way to give your diet a boost. And if you aren’t eating butter, I hope you will start! You don’t need to feel guilty eating butter, in fact, it’s really good for you and should be apart of your daily diet. It’s also really important for kids and can aid in their development. So add it to your weekly grocery list and start enjoying it today!