During the era of the baby-boomers, concerned mothers began replacing their children’s traditional butter with plastic-based margarine in hopes of reducing their risk of heart disease and obesity. However, there is no solid proof that margarine is healthier than butter; in fact, some studies show the complete opposite!
Raw butter is a natural food filled with essential fats vital to a balanced diet, whereas margarine contains refined polyunsaturated oils, which can be more devastating to a person’s health than eating traditional, time-tested butter. It is a great source of vitamins E and K, and has the most easily absorbable form of vitamin A to promote adrenal and thyroid health. It also contains the mineral selenium, as well as vitamin D, lauric acid, lecithin, iodine, and antioxidants.
Butter can also protect against tooth decay, aid fertility in women, prevent gastrointestinal bacterial infections in small children and the elderly, and helps promote joint mobility through an anti-stiffness factor. It is a great source of fast energy, and it cannot be stored in the body’s adipose tissues. Furthermore, the good cholesterol we obtain from butter is vital to our children’s brain and nervous system development.
The best butter available is raw, organic butter, as pasteurization will decimate the nutrients found in butter. Consumers can purchase culture kits to add to organic cream. After whisking the mixture briskly, they will have beautiful, healthy butter. If they are leery of making their own butter, the best butter is from animals raised on a grass-only diet. However, cultured butter is filled with good bacteria, just like yogurt, such as lactoccocus lactis and lactobacillus planterum—both of which are critical to maintaining a balanced inner system.
Our ancestors thrived on butter, which has been around since we first domesticated animals. It has been prized for thousands of years for its health benefits, and is definitely not detrimental to our health if used in moderation. The best way to consume butter is to only eat it when a person craves it. Like sea salt, our bodies will tell us if we need more of it in our body by sending the signals to our brain to consume something salty. By listening to our bodies, we can balance out what we do and do not need in regards to diet, and butter is no exception to the rule.
Clearly, butter has many health benefits with only a few risks. As long as no one eats more than his or her body needs, he or she can reach and maintain an ideal weight, while aiding in the development of healthy muscles and a well-balanced body. Remember, the claim that saturated fat and cholesterol contributes to heart disease has not been conclusively backed up, even after millions of dollars in research has been done. While too much of a good thing can definitely be bad, and margarine is definitely not a healthier option. So sit back and enjoy that piece of buttered toast, or perfectly cooked dish made with organic, cultured butter guilt-free!