Grass-fed butter - delicious and nutritious fat
Butter has some pretty impelling qualities for inclusion in our diet
Butter is a stable, predominately saturated fat and the best source of fat-soluble vitamins. Vitamins A (retinol, needed by the thyroid gland and for good vision), D, K and E.
THE “PRICE FACTOR”. Vitamin Absorption Catalyst in Butter from pastured cows – Dr Weston Price, who studied diets of isolated peoples around the world, found that deep yellow butter from pasture fed cows is very high in all fat-soluble vitamins, which he determined to be catalysts needed for the metabolic assimilation of water-soluble vitamins found in vegetables, grains and meat. This catalyst disappears if cows are fed cotton-seed or high protein soy diets, but does survive pasteurization.Butter and cream from pasture-fed cows are a delicious addition to our diet to ensure effective assimilation of minerals and water-soluble vitamins.
Contains short and medium chain fatty acids that the body uses for energy. BUTYRIC and LAURIC fatty acids are also anti-fungal, antimicrobial and prevent tumor formation.
Provides the intestines with a fat source needed to convert plant carotenes into vitamin A
Omega-6 and Omega-3 EFA’s are in small, but equal balance in butter
Contains CLA (highest level is from pasture-fed cows). Shown to have strong anti-cancer properties.
Contains LECITHIN to assist breakdown and assimilation of cholesterol and fats.
Contains TRACE MINERALS. Manganese, zinc, chromium, selenium (rich source, powerful antioxidant, needed for thyroid gland), iodine (protects against goiter in mountainous areas).
THE “WULZEN FACTOR”. Present in raw butter, cream and whole milk, but destroyed by pasteurization, this “anti-stiffness”factor protects humans/animals from degenerative arthritis, hardening arteries, cataracts. Calves fed pasteurized or skim milk will not thrive until raw butterfat is added back into their diet.Today unfortunately, obtaining raw butter is a challenge.
Where to find good pastured, organic butter?
The following are good sources, but from pasteurized rather than preferred raw milk (may be able to find locally):
Made with milk from 100% pasture-fed cows:
- New Zealand Anchor®butter;
- Irish Kerrygold®butter
Made with milk from cows that are mostly pasture-fed:
- Organic Valley®
- Natural by Nature®
- Tillamook®
- Pastureland®
Enjoy it!
Claims that “time-tested” butter causes chronic high cholesterol values have not been substantiated by research, so go ahead and enjoy it (in moderation of course) – fry with it (but don’t let it burn), spread it on your bread and drizzle it over your vegetables!
Butter Oil (Ghee) from cows grazing on fast-growing grass contains "Activator X"
“Activator X”now known to be Vitamin K2 (MK-4)
Vitamin K – “For Koagulation and Kalcium”
Health benefits of quality butter oil containing "Activator X" (Vitamin K2)
(E.g. X-Factor Gold by Green Pastures®)
“Activator X” / K2 is a significant immune system builder. Dr. Weston Price, who studied the health/nutrition connection in native diets world-wide in the 1930’s/40’s, identified “Activator X” as a significant immune system builder, through its exponential effect on the body’s utilization of minerals. He found that “Activator X” has extraordinarily high levels in high-vitamin butter oil made from centrifuged, deep-yellow butter fat produced by cows grazing exclusively on rapidly growing grass (usually because of copious amounts of rain, as in Ireland, New Zealand and Denmark).
Contains “Anti-stiffness factor” (Wulzen Factor). Protects against degenerative arthritis (calcification of the joints), cataracts, and hardening of the arteries.
Glycosphingolipids protect against gastrointestinal infections. Especially in the very young and the elderly.
12-15% Short /Medium chain-length fatty Acids. These are absorbed directly from the small intestine to the liver to be converted into instant energy (does not need to be emulsified by bile salts). These fatty acids also have antimicrobial, anti-tumor and immune-system-supporting properties.
Highly protective LAURIC acid is not found in other animal fats. It is made only by the mammary gland, not in the liver like other saturated fats. LAURIC acid increases heart-protective HDL cholesterol. We can obtain small amounts of LAURIC acid in butterfat or large amounts in coconut oil.
BUTYRIC acid is essentially unique to butter, has both antifungal and anti-tumor properties. It is also an important energy source for the cells lining the colon.
