What is a salad without dressing? The same goes for bread without butter. Bread is potentially lifeless and boring without it. Not only does butter add flavor to food, but it is also potentially a source of healthy fats as well.
But have you ever consider the type of butter you are consuming? Which do you think is the best type based on taste, health benefits, and other categories? In this article, we will tackle two types: grass-fed and regular butter. Although the two types of butter may have the same source, say cow, it does not mean that it is alike.
How is Butter Created?
Cow’s raw milk is the source of butter. It is made by churning the milk, then the butter separates by itself during the process.
What is Regular Butter?
Regular butter comes from the milk of a cow fed with grains or other commercial feeds such as:
Cows that are fed with grains are often sick. They tend to be weak and malnourish as well. When that happens, their owners tend to aid them with antibiotics and other chemicals to keep them healthy. Thus, the produced milk has traces of added antibiotics. Moreover, it has lesser nutrients. Considering that butter comes from milk, it means that butter from a grain-fed source has few nutrients as well.
Perhaps, the only positive quality of grain-fed butter is it is way cheaper compared to grass-fed.
What is Grass-Fed Butter?
The grass-fed variety, on the other hand, is made from the milk of cows that are fed with grass. Cows whose diet is grass produce milk with healthy nutrients. Their milk is composed of healthier and better omega-6 fatty acids, omega-3 fatty acids, fats, and fat-soluble vitamins. With the healthy nutrients associated with grass-fed cows, your body is best fuelled. Thus, organic and grass-fed butter seems the best choice.
Additionally, the grass-fed variety is associated with many health benefits including:
In contrary to the belief of the cardiologist, grass-fed butter is actually good for the heart. It is especially more effective when partnered with a low-carb diet. Additionally, it is composed of saturated fats, good cholesterol, and lots of antioxidants. These properties plus several vitamins such as A, D, E, K2, selenium, lecithin, and iodine, keeps the heart healthy.
It is full of omega-3 fatty acids. These fatty acids are well-known for their efficient job in fighting inflammation. This property is especially important in managing conditions like arthritis and eczema. Additionally, Omega-3 fatty acids are also vital in protecting brain function and heart.
Gaining weight is not a problem when you include it in your diet. On the contrary, it even promotes weight loss because it possesses a compound that boosts metabolism. This compound is butyrate. Butyrate also aids in inflammation reduction plus great support with the good bacteria in your stomach.
The golden-yellow of grass-fed butter is not a product of artificial coloring nor is it used for advertising purpose. In fact, the color is natural and caused by the eye-aiding nutrient called beta-carotene. Thus, the butter is friendly to the eyes and protect your vision.
Aside from these health benefits, it is helpful in reducing the risk of cancer, increasing the physical energy as well as the mental focus, and managing the level of blood sugar and insulin.
Reduce Cancer Risk
Some kinds of vegetable oil are responsible for developing cancer cells, while others guard your cells against possible mutation. These kind of oils are from olive and avocado. But interestingly enough, grass-fed butter is included in this category of good oil. It was proven in one study, though the participants are rats.
After feeding the rats with grass-fed butter, their metabolism is observed to improve. The same happens to their inflammation, cholesterol level, and cell damage. The mentioned are all pointing to the growth of the cancer cell.
Improve Mental Focus and Physical Energy
The medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) component of the butter is the one responsible for the improvement of mental focus and physical energy. MCT is a fat that can be directly used by the body without conversion.
Manage Blood Sugar Level and Insulin
Grass-fed butter contains a substance that can stabilize the level of your blood sugar and insulin. Because of this property, diabetic individuals may include grass-fed butter in their dietary food.
Grass-Fed Butter in Ketogenic Diet
If you are on a keto diet, grass-fed butter is the better choice to partner your diet. Do not be afraid to experiment with the salted type of grass-fed butter when making your own keto food. More salt is actually necessary for the diet to balance the level of your sodium. But for a much better choice, you can alternatively use salted and unsalted butter.
Where to Find Grass-Fed Butter?
Because of the health benefits associated with grass-fed butter, it is gaining popularity in the market, making it easier to find. Your local grocery store may already have it. Finding it in your local farmer’s market is also possible.
To know whether butter is grass-fed or grain-fed, you may check its label. Usually, organic butter has labels that say “grass-fed” or “pasture-raised”.
Like other products, grass-fed butter comes in different flavors. For instance, there are salted and unsalted. The salted grass-fed just add kick on the flavor, making it less boring to consume. On the other hand, the unsalted one is good to add in some recipes to spice it up.
Other styles are the European-style butter and ghee. With European-style, consumers will like it for its easier digestion quality. Perhaps the only downside of it is the strong flavor that is due to the fermentation process.
Meanwhile, ghee is very positive for people having a dairy-sensitive gut. According to one article, its sugar and protein content are separated, making it safe for individuals who are sensitive to dairy. It is even safe in high heats.