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Why Butter Ain’t All That Bad!
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It’s hard to think of a single kitchen item which has been demonized over the past century as much as butter. For some people, the very word “butter” is still synonymous with heart attacks and obesity. But the truth is that butter has been used for culinary purposes for thousands of years, and somehow, our ancestors survived. It was only in the twentieth century, when supposedly healthier alternatives like margarine were developed, that heart disease began to skyrocket.
This is a classic example of the cure being worse than the disease. Scientists and consumers alike wrongly believed that the saturated fat in natural butter clogged the arteries and led to an increased risk of heart attack or stroke, as well as obesity. But in fact, the artificial trans fats found in margarine, vegetable oil, and other butter replacements are much worse for people’s health than any risks from butter. It has only been in the past few years the scientific community has accepted that the anti-fat crusade of the twentieth century was misguided.
The truth is that butter, in proper quantities, can actually be healthy for you, assuming you are using a high quality butter. In this article, you will learn some surprising health benefits of this much maligned dairy product.
The best butter you can buy is organic butter from grass-fed cows. Dairy cows which consume such a diet are eating what nature intended them to eat and are getting all the vitamins and nutrients that their bodies require from the grass. This results in a higher quality milk, which in turn is used to produce the best butter on the market. Opt for butter from grass-fed cows if it’s available. It will cost a bit more, but it’s worth it. There are many benefits to list in this respect. Keep reading about why butter is good for you!
1. Butter is a great source of beneficial vitamins
Butter, especially the kind mentioned above, is a plentiful source of vitamin A, which plays a role in supporting cardiovascular health, the adrenal and thyroid glands, and in maintaining healthy vision. Vitamin E is also found in butter, and helps protect from eye diseases like cataracts and neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, and helps maintain healthy skin.
Butter is also a good source of the elusive vitamin K2. This vitamin is difficult to get, and many people are deficient without realizing it. Vitamin K2 helps fight harmful inflammation and plays an important role in the absorption of calcium, vitamin D, and other nutrients in your body which strengthen your teeth and bones.
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Photo credit: bigstock.com
2. Butter contains good fats
The truth is that despite what people have been told for decades, fat is not universally evil. Some types of fat have considerable health benefits, and others are horrible for you. Natural, real butter is a good source of naturally occurring saturated fats. These fats help raise your body’s levels of “good” high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, while simultaneously lowering your levels of harmful low density lipoprotein (LDL) variety.
3. Butter contains triglycerides and fatty acids
Butter also contains medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) and short chain fatty acids with beneficial fats. This increases the feeling of satiety and doesn’t contribute to weight gain. This is because medium and short chain fats are burned as “fuel” by your body right away, as opposed to the longer chain ones that can accumulate on the body as unwanted pounds.
Medium and short chain fats are also linked to improved heart and brain health. You’ve probably heard that fish, olive oil, and coconut oil are healthy, right? That’s because they have MCTs and short chain fats too.
Margarine, by contrast, is loaded with trans fats, which actually increase the risk of a heart attack. You are literally poisoning yourself by eating this allegedly healthy butter substitute. Don’t be foolish; go for the dairy spread that has stood the test of time.
4. Butter has iodine in it
Iodine is an essential nutrient which plays a critical role in regulating your thyroid, which in turn helps regulate your metabolism and hormone levels in the body. If you’re too deficient in iodine (or you get too much, which is less common) your whole body goes haywire. This is especially important for people with hyperthyroidism. This is a complicated condition, so don’t try to treat yourself. Talk to your doctor.
For everyone else, you can rest assured that butter is a good way to get some iodine in your diet.
READ ALSO: Don’t Buy It – Make Your Own! 8 Easy Homemade Peanut Butter Recipes
You do not need to make a special point to begin gorging on butter to gain the health benefits listed here. It is simply important (and hopefully liberating) for you to know that you don’t need to be afraid of it. As long as you’re eating the real thing, preferably all natural organic butter, you can enjoy it guilt and worry-free.
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