I remember when my parents made the switch from butter to margarine because the experts were now saying that butter was unhealthy, that it was the cause of many diseases. The taste was kinda weird, but it was healthier, so we stuck with it. But I have made a complete ‘180’. You won’t find margarine, canola oil, or any processed vegetable oil in my house today. I have replaced them with coconut, avocado and olive oil. I even cook with plain old butter, and it is delicious!

One of the biggest examples of misinformation of our time is the notion that saturated fats from animal sources are the root cause of diseases like heart disease and cancer.

How We Came to Believe Fat is Bad

In the early 1900s, heart disease was rare. In the early 1920’s, incidence began to rise and by 1960, it became America’s #1 killer. A biologist and pathologist by the name of Ancel Keys took an interest in this problem. He developed the ‘diet-heart hypothesis’ linking dietary cholesterol (fat) and heart disease, publishing his findings in the Seven Countries Study. It was later discovered that there was no objective basis for the countries that Keys chose to include in his study. He left out France and Germany, two countries that had relatively low rates of heart disease despite living on a diet rich in saturated fats. But by the time people started paying attention to the scientists stating otherwise, the idea that fat made us fat and sick was part of our culture and is still lingering on today. In 1999, the lead scientist in Italy for the Seven Countries study, Alessandro Menotti, went back and reviewed the data. He noticed that the food category that best correlated with death from heart disease was ‘sweets’ – sugar products and pastries.

Benefits of Butter

1. Vitamin A – Butter contains the most easily absorbable form of vitamin A. It is a powerful antioxidant, cleaning up free radicals and fighting inflammation, as well as supporting our immune system. Vitamin A also plays a role in brain function, skin, heart, kidneys, lungs, and vision. It has earned the reputation as an anti-aging vitamin.

2. Vitamin D – Vitamin D plays many roles in the body, one of which is to help build strong bones and teeth. Lack of vitamin D is linked to symptoms of fatigue, muscle weakness and mood changes, like depression. Deficiency is also linked to cancer and heart disease.

3. Vitamin E – Vitamin E is another antioxidant vital to the immune system to fight off infections. It also plays a role in regulating blood pressure and muscle contraction as well as required for proper function of many organs neurological processes.

4. Vitamin K – Improved insulin levels, reduced risk of cancer and protection against heart disease are all associated with Vitamin K. It is also associated with proper blood clotting and strong bones.

5. Cholesterol – Despite what you may have heard, cholesterol is a very important substance – we cannot live without it! Whether we eat cholesterol or not, our cells will make as much as we need. 25% of the cholesterol in our body is found in our brain. It is needed for the development and maintenance of our brain and nervous system – we need it just to think! Cholesterol is an important antioxidant, a precursor to vitamin D, and found in the membrane of every cell. It protects us from depression and helps us fight against infections. It is also a building block for hormones.

DID YOU KNOW? Mother’s milk is high in cholesterol (because it is needed for growth and development)

6. Iodine – Butter is a good source of the absorbable form of iodine needed for a healthy thyroid gland. Thyroid hormones have an impact on our ability to learn and remember.

7. Selenium – Selenium is an anti-oxidant that assists in protecting against cancer and heart disease. It may even play a role in preventing mental decline.

8. Conjugated linoleic acid – Conjugated linoleic acid has potent anti-cancer properties, helps build muscles and strengthens our immune system.

9. Glycospingolipids – Glycospingolipids are a special category of fatty acids that protect against infections in the gut.

10. Butyric acid – The fuel of choice for most of the cells in the large intestine is butyric acid. It is key to keeping the digestive system running smoothly. It also plays a role in gene regulation, immune system function and brain health.

Would you like to learn more about healthy fats? Send me a message so we can talk! I’m looking forward to meeting you!

Tell Me More About Healthy Fats

References

The Big Fat Surprise, Nina Teicholz

https://www.westonaprice.org