From travel adventures, including my rafting trip to the Grand Canyon and day trips in SoCal, now to adventures in eating and nutrition!  

When she was 3, my niece opened up a packet of butter and proceeded to eat it.  No, there was no warm piece of bread for it to melt into - just right out of the packet.  I was horrified.  But now I realize, she was wise beyond her years.  It turns out grass fed butter has so many health benefits. I read a couple of sources (Dave Asprey, Dr Steven Gundry, Dr David Perlmutter) which made me rethink reaching for butter.  They all send up their hands in praise of grass fed butter, also called, pasture raised.  Now I can’t live without it.  I melt it over everything: vegetables, rice, or gluten free bread.  As a self professed tea snob, I am even testing out bulletproof coffee, which is coffee, butter, and coconut oil.  Are you now horrified with me??  Quite honestly, it’s delicious and I feel great. You would think as I sit here typing this, I would be gaining all kinds of weight, but I have actually lost some without trying.  If you visually compare it to regular butter, grass fed has a lovely color.  Kerrygold is a great brand made in Ireland but you can find it anywhere, even in Costco.  Can you picture those Irish cows eating the healthiest green grass, adding all kinds of flavor to their milk? It tastes richer, more delicious, and is nutritionally superior. Not only is that flavor passed onto your food or baking, but people feel more satiated and are benefiting from the unsaturated fats in ways listed below.  Grass fed ghee is also equally beneficial as well.  Just as a disclaimer, I don’t have any cholesterol issues, and I am not a medical doctor, so if you have cholesterol or heart issues, talk to your doctor first about adding grass fed butter to your diet. Here are some of the benefits:

Grass is their natural diet

It may be redundant, but cows eat grass.  Their ruminant stomachs are built to digest grass or hay, and not grains and soy.  Not only does it benefit its meat, but for its dairy as well.  Grass fed is always the best choice for your health, and it also supports sustainable farming.  Some farmers keep down costs by feeding grain (corn and soy) which makes them sick, fatten up faster, and it produces less omega 3 fatty acids.  Let’s talk about the benefits of grass fed butter:

Omega 3 Fatty Acids (EPA, DHA)

Grass fed butter has much higher levels (up to 26% more than regular butter) of EPA and DHA, which are being studied around cardiac health.  Research has found that patients with cardiac risk were significantly reduced with the addition of heavy doses of EPA and DHA.  They also help fight inflammation, including inflammatory diseases such as eczema and arthritis, and help protect the brain from it. These fats also become building blocks to hormones and a source of energy for the body.

CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid)

This essential fatty acid you can only find in food.  Again, grass fed butter contains five times the amount as regular butter.  It’s benefits include lower cholesterol, reduced body fat and leaner muscle, fights cancer, and helps reduce bone loss.  It also helps build and support the delicate tissue of tight junction cells that prevent leaking fluids into the blood or brain.

Butyrate

Another fatty acid that helps support the tight junction cells which help gut integrity and helps with inflammation.  Your microbiome loves it as well, benefiting your gut bacteria as a prebiotic.  It helps with insulin regulation by maintaining blood sugar levels as well as boosting metabolism. 

Anyway you spread it

All bodies respond differently to all kinds of foods.  What works for me, won't necessarily work for you. It’s healthy to experiment with different ideas to see what works best for you.  Be the laboratory to your highest, healthy self!  Try switching out regular butter for grass fed butter. It’s a delicious source of the healthiest fats your body needs. Let me know what happens.  My now 8 year old niece still slathers butter on her food, and I am so proud of her!