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butter in a pan
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orget what your mama told you and grab a stick of butter.

Butter is an excellent source of vitamins (A, D, E and K), minerals (chromium, copper, iodine, manganese, and zinc), anti-oxidants (selenium and cholesterol) and healthy fatty acids (both short and medium-chain).

It has the perfect balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fats and, if sourced from grass-fed cows, contains high levels of conjugated linoleic acid (which protects against cancer and helps the body store muscle instead of fat, thankyouverymuch!).

Butter also has glycospingolipids (which protect your gut from infection) and is an excellent source of good cholesterol (news flash! cholesterol is vital for healthy cellular function, as well as brain and nervous system development. Translation? cholesterol=good).

Finally, butter contains a hormone-like substance called the Wulzen Factor (only found in raw butter and cream) that can alleviate joint stiffness and arthritis.

The Wulzen Factor also ensures that calcium is deposited in the bones rather than in the joints. The low-fat diet fad of the 70’s and 80’s wreaked havoc on so many, resulting in excess calcium in the joints (arthritis) and brittle bones due to a lack of calcium (osteoporosis).

When following a traditional diet, it’s recommended to eat 3 tablespoons of grass-fed butter each day. I like to use butter when cooking eggs in the morning, or adding to steamed veggies for dinner. Then there’s always fresh sourdough bread slathered in butter, oh my!

Another family favorite are “chocolate bugs“, which are perfect when your sweet tooth strikes! Speaking of sweet tooth…did you know getting adequate amounts of fat in your diet can help curb sugar cravings? SCORE!

When I have an abundance of raw cream on hand, I prefer making my own butter in the Vitamix, but if time and supply are low, we enjoy Kerrygold Butter (which can be purchased here, but we’ve found the savings of buying it at Costco actually pays for your membership!)

What are some of your favorite ways to incorporate butter into your diet? Share with us in the comments below!

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  • Avatar
    Cassie
    Reply

    Why didn’t you tell me about your blog?! Maybe it will help me get healthy! What do you think about the Brethren Butter??

    • Kelsey Steffen
      Kelsey Steffen
      Reply

      Cassie, from my understanding Brethren Butter is Amish butter…am I right? With Amish butter you really need to know where/how it’s made. Many “Amish Roll Butter’s” are simply regular butter that’s been hand-rolled in the Amish-style log, therefore they can slap the name “Amish” on it because it’s rolled in the Amish-style. You want to be sure your butter is coming from grass-fed cows and is a deep yellow color (which tells you it’s rich in beta carotene and will be high in Vitamin D, E and K2). Conventional butter will not provide you with these vitamins, nor give you the health benefits you’re after from butter. Does this help?

      • Avatar
        Cassie
        Reply

        Yes, Thanks Kelsey. We used Kerry Gold butter for years, but I switched to the Brethren Butter since we have it locally. The Brethren is a very light yellow color. I actually always preferred the Kerry Gold, so won’t have a problem switching back.

  • Avatar
    Lauren
    Reply

    Can you substitute ghee for butter? It is on the expensive side but is casein free for those of us that are sensitive the the milk protein. I found some on azure https://www.azurestandard.com/shop/product/20028/ . Is raw butter better for digestion than simply organic butter?

    • Kelsey Steffen
      Kelsey Steffen
      Reply

      Lauren, 100% yes! Ghee is a great alternative for those with dairy allergies as the milk fats have been removed. In fact, ghee is slightly higher in vitamins A, D, E and K! Yes, it does cost more, but its shelf life is much longer and the best news is, you can make yourself! The process is very simple…post for another day? Raw butter has many more health benefits because the beneficial bacteria and enzymes have not been destroyed through pasteurization. It’s these bacteria and enzymes that aid in our digestion.

  • Avatar
    Shelly
    Reply

    Do you do 3 tablespoons of butter, and 3 tablespoons of coconut oil per day?

    • Kelsey Steffen
      Kelsey Steffen
      Reply

      This is near impossible (unless eating it off a spoon), but I do try! Usually comes out to about 2 and 2. You’d be amazed how much energy this gives you (especially the coconut oil as it bypasses the gallbladder for instant energy) and sugar cravings disappear! Stay tuned for my chocolate bug recipe! A GREAT way to get your healthy fats!

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