Is Grass-Fed Butter Really Better?

Butter is basically the fat from milk in solid form and the diet of the cows that produce the milk (and then butter) can affect its taste and nutrition. Most cows in the US eat corn and grain for their food, but grass-fed meat and dairy is catching on and for good reason. Butter is pretty complex and can actually contain quite a few things that can benefit your health - even more so if it’s from grass-fed cows. Here’s why grass-fed butter has an edge over regular butter:

🧈 Healthy Unsaturated Fats
Eating a variety of fats is good for you and grass-fed butter is higher in unsaturated fats than regular butter. Incorporating more of these in your diet may help reduce your risk of heart disease.

🧈 Vitamins
You usually don’t associate vitamins with butter, but you can with the grass-fed varieties. Vitamins A, D, K, and E can be found in higher amounts in grass-fed butter.

🧈 Beta Carotene
Grass contains lots of phytonutrients and beta-carotene is one of them. It’s an antioxidant and the same one that’s found in carrots and tomatoes. The levels of beta-carotene are much higher in grass-fed butter since grass is the sole diet of the cows that make it. Beta carotene can help protect your cells from damage and can also be converted into vitamin A.

🧈 Lots More CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid)
CLA is a type of fat that may help prevent cardiovascular disease, increase bone mass, and fight inflammation and there’s 500% higher amounts of it in grass-fed butter.

🧈 Omega-3s
On average, grass-fed butter contains 26% more omega-3 fatty acids than regular butter. These fats can help cell development, hormone regulation, healthy blood function, and reduce inflammation in your body.

🧈 Richer Flavor
Grass-fed butter typically has a richer flavor and deeper yellow color than regular butter due to its more complex nutritional profile. Give it a try sometime, but remember both varieties are high in calories and fat so enjoy in moderation!