Article by Caleb Lee, Author of The Superdiet System
If you've been alive for at
least a couple decades, you've no doubt heard horror stories about how
"dangerous" animal fats are ... but ... once you read this
short article, you'll see saturated animal fats are some of the
healthiest fats you can consume!
least a couple decades, you've no doubt heard horror stories about how
"dangerous" animal fats are ... but ... once you read this
short article, you'll see saturated animal fats are some of the
healthiest fats you can consume!
For the purpose of this article, I'll be focusing on one of the healthiest
fats out there -- butter from grass fed cows.
fats out there -- butter from grass fed cows.
Why I Eat Tons Of Butter ...
- It makes nearly everything delicious ...
- It's healthy!
- You can actually LOSE belly fat!
Now, I don't think many people
would disagree with point #1 -- I mean -- who can resist steak expertly cooked
in butter ... or a sweet potato with cinnamon and melted butter ... or freshly
steamed broccoli covered in melted butter?
would disagree with point #1 -- I mean -- who can resist steak expertly cooked
in butter ... or a sweet potato with cinnamon and melted butter ... or freshly
steamed broccoli covered in melted butter?
(Doesn't it just make your mouth water?)
But some people might have a problem believing butter is incredibly
healthy for you. So let's talk about that ...
healthy for you. So let's talk about that ...
Why Butter Is Healthy ...
Despite the media fear-mongering that has taken place for the last few
decades -- there is no good reason to fear saturated animal fats. None.
decades -- there is no good reason to fear saturated animal fats. None.
- The "lipid hypothesis" for heart disease is
just that--a hypothesis that was never
proven. In fact, it has been disproven in many scientific
trials. - The same goes for the "high cholesterol is
bad" hypothesis. - (However both saturated animal fat intake and
cholesterol levels have been exploited by the mass media and giant
pharmaceutical companies for a profit of, literally, hundreds of
BILLIONS of dollars, but I digress ) ...
While I don't have time to cover both of the above points, because it
leaves the scope of this article, the truth is a lot less sensational.
Butter is a healthy food that most people should be consuming
leaves the scope of this article, the truth is a lot less sensational.
Butter is a healthy food that most people should be consuming
- Butter is very vitamin rich ...
- Butter helps your body "access" other
fat-soluble vitamins in other food you might be eating (such as
vegetables) -- without fat in your meals with these other
"healthy" foods your body can't access these fat soluble
vitamins! - Because it's saturated, and more stable, butter is
fine for cooking/baking at high temperatures ...
What about cholesterol?
What about cholesterol? What about it? Seriously though, even though you
shouldn't be worried about cholesterol -- butter will do nothing but good
things for your cholesterol ...
shouldn't be worried about cholesterol -- butter will do nothing but good
things for your cholesterol ...
In a recent blog post, one man added a half a stick of butter
(!) to his daily regime and saw:
(!) to his daily regime and saw:
- HDL (“good”) cholesterol went up by 19%
- Non-HDL cholesterol went down by 25%.
... Results that would impress ANY doctor. While results like his (and
other self-experimenters on the internet) aren't from mainstream studies or
scientific trials -- I simply would not worry about increased butter causing
"bad" cholesterol levels.
other self-experimenters on the internet) aren't from mainstream studies or
scientific trials -- I simply would not worry about increased butter causing
"bad" cholesterol levels.
If you're truly worried, you can get your blood work done now, and track
how much it changes after adding in butter. (For the record: I
get my own blood work done regularly every couple of months and have seen
nothing but positive results from eating so much butter. In fact I have lost
belly fat)
how much it changes after adding in butter. (For the record: I
get my own blood work done regularly every couple of months and have seen
nothing but positive results from eating so much butter. In fact I have lost
belly fat)
So as you can see, there is nothing wrong with consuming more butter.
However ...
However ...
Watch Out For "Fake" Butter!
I don't know about you, but I grew up on margarine and other fake
"Butter substitutes". That's not good. None of these are healthy at
all (the reasons why leave the scope of this article).
"Butter substitutes". That's not good. None of these are healthy at
all (the reasons why leave the scope of this article).
The brand I recommend and consume is called "Kerrygolds Pure
Irish Butter" because it is from grass-fed cows. But beware,
as I'm told they have a "reduced fat" version of their butter --
don't buy this.
Irish Butter" because it is from grass-fed cows. But beware,
as I'm told they have a "reduced fat" version of their butter --
don't buy this.
Only buy the regular, natural butter.
If you can't find this particular brand, simply look for any brand that is
only pure butter and is from grass fed cows (ideally).
only pure butter and is from grass fed cows (ideally).
How Much Butter Should You Eat?
While some people are fans of extremely high fat and low carb/moderate
protein diets -- I don't think you need to "over-consume" butter. And
the amount of butter which you eat is dependent upon your own circumstances.
protein diets -- I don't think you need to "over-consume" butter. And
the amount of butter which you eat is dependent upon your own circumstances.
Remember: butter is still fat, and as such, it is still relatively
high in calories per gram ...
high in calories per gram ...
If you're already at, or close to your goal weight, and are eating
a healthy diet, then you may not even need to think about how much butter
you're eating (take myself for example: I never count how much butter
I'm using and just slather all my foods in it, or cook with it with reckless
abandon. I'm neither trying to use "more" or trying to use
"less".)
a healthy diet, then you may not even need to think about how much butter
you're eating (take myself for example: I never count how much butter
I'm using and just slather all my foods in it, or cook with it with reckless
abandon. I'm neither trying to use "more" or trying to use
"less".)
If you're trying to lose weight, you may need to keep an eye on
how much you use. With cooking, you'll probably leave some in the cooking pan,
which is ok, but keep an eye on how much you put on your foods, etc. That said,
don't restrict it too much thinking it's somehow "bad" -- just be
aware it's high in calories like other fats.
how much you use. With cooking, you'll probably leave some in the cooking pan,
which is ok, but keep an eye on how much you put on your foods, etc. That said,
don't restrict it too much thinking it's somehow "bad" -- just be
aware it's high in calories like other fats.
So be like me and enjoy your butter and instead of thinking it is
"bad", think of it as a perfectly natural, "health" food
for you :)
"bad", think of it as a perfectly natural, "health" food
for you :)
SOURCES:
- http://www.bulletproofexec.com/butter-infographic/
- http://www.ajcn.org/content/78/3/370.abstract
- http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/40/1S2/II-1
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18722618
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14561870
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19366864
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12231422
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18346306
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11024006
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11989838
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16702259
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/5413655
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10573540
http://www.bulletproofexec.com/kerrygold-introduces-a-new-scam-butter/
