Butter is one of the many guilty pleasures in life. According to the U.S. Census data and Simmons National Consumer Survey. (NHCS) statistics, 297.78 million Americans used butter used butter in 2020. This figure is projected to increase to 300.54 million in 2024.
BY: GUY JABBAR
Most people are unaware that butter is loaded with nutrition you can receive by adding butter to your daily diet. It’s amazing how the rich, creamy taste of butter can always seem to make your meals so much more enjoyable.
Unfortunately, we’ve been taught that butter is bad for you. That it’s high in cholesterol and will clog your arteries.
Even medical experts in the past have argued that people should avoid saturated fats because it’s going to damage your liver.
But in reality, there is no current study that says that consuming butter will—in any shape or form—increase the clogging of your arteries or cause harm to your liver.
What are some healthy benefits of butter?
Although butter has been deemed an unhealthy fat in the past, this amazing delicious edible fat contains tons of nutritional benefits. Here are 10 health benefits of butter:
- Vitamin A—It’s essential for many processes in your body, including maintaining healthy vision, ensuring the normal function of your organs and immune system, and aiding the proper development of babies in the womb. Here are some of the benefits of vitamin A:
- Protects your eyes from night blindness and age-related decline
- Boosts immunity and may help fight infections
- Supports skin health
- May reduce your risk of certain cancers
- Promotes bone health
- Vitamin D—It is a nutrient that your body needs for building and maintaining healthy bones. It helps maintain normal blood levels of calcium and phosphorus, which strengthen bones. It also helps form teeth and bones
- Vitamin E—Benefits your body and health in multiple essential ways, including protecting cells from oxidative stress. The benefits of vitamin E include:
- Contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress
- Supports the immune system
- Maintains healthy skin
- Increases red blood cell count
- Reducing risk of vitamin E deficiency
- Improve kidney function
- Supports healthy eyes
- Vitamin F—Supplies calories, provides structure to cells, supports growth and development, and is involved in major bodily functions like blood pressure regulation and immune response. It also helps to protect against the sun rays and radiation to prevent sunburn.
- Vitamin K—It is really good for your bones and your teeth to prevent dental cavities. It is also known for its many health benefits particularly on the vascular system.
However, because of this vitamin’s many beneficial properties, recent studies and clinical experience have revealed the following beautifying benefits of vitamin K:
- Promotes beautiful and healthy skin
- Reduces visible signs of skin aging
- Fights dark circles under the eyes
- Skin restoration
- Rapid skin healing
- Helps reduce skin problems like Eczema and Psoriasis
- Lecithin—An antidote to cholesterol—it actually will not increase their cholesterol because it has the antidote to cholesterol. It also aids in digestion, lowers cholesterol and improves overall heart health.
- Selenium—To make sure that your diet is plentiful with selenium sources that help you get all the health benefits of selenium, reach for foods like fish, seeds and beef. The health benefits of selenium are numerous and impact your overall well-being as selenium:
- Acts as an anti-inflammatory (many diseases are results of inflammation in the body)
- Boosts your immune system by increasing the effectiveness of white blood cells, which are responsible for warding off infection and viruses
- Helps alleviate dandruff problems
- Regulates the thyroid by enabling the less active form of thyroid hormone to be converted into the active form that is used by your body
- Aids in sperm movement, thus enhancing male fertility
- Protects your heart by decreasing the risk of blood clotting, reducing your bad cholesterol levels and increasing your good cholesterol level
- Fights against free radicals—unstable molecules that can damage cells and contribute to aging and diseases—such as cancer. As studies have shown, the number of deaths due to cancer are less in those that have adequate levels of selenium.
- Omega-3 fats—Every cell in your body needs omega-3s, especially the eyes and brain. Omega-3s are also important for muscle activity, immune function, digestion and fertility.
The research also shows that omega-3 fats have health benefits. “People who eat omega-3s in their diet may have less plaque buildup in their arteries, lowering the risk of heart attack and stroke,” says registered dietitian Anna Taylor, MS, RDN, LD. “Omega-3s lower triglyceride levels and may slightly raise ‘good’ HDL cholesterol levels.”
“Butter is enriched in omega-3 fatty acids!”
Taylor adds that some research suggests eating more foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, like fish, may have lower risks of cognitive function problems, like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. However, it’s still an area of continuing research.
However, there are other possible benefits, too. Some research shows that regularly eating omega-3s may lower the risk of:
- Some types of cancer
- Age-related macular degeneration (blurred or distorted vision)
- Dry eye disease
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Omega-6 fats—It’s a type of unsaturated fat that is found in vegetable oil like corn, primrose seed and soybean oil. What does that mean? It means—it’s a healthy fat that does not convert into fat (it doesn’t make you fat)
These fats can also be used to fight against or treat a wide variety of diseases and ailments. Here are 9 benefits of omega-6 fats:
1. Breast Pain
2. Eczema
3. Diabetic Neuropathy
4. Joint Damage
5. Arthritis
6. Osteoporosis
7. Multiple Sclerosis
8. Allergies
9. ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
- Lauric acid—It has a variety of health benefits, including antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and anticancer properties.
Don’t be afraid to add more butter to your diet!
Medical experts suggest that lauric acid could aid in weight loss and metabolism. It’s also found to protect against Alzheimer’s disease, among other benefits. Its effects on blood cholesterol levels are still being researched by leading scientific experts.
Lauric acid can be found in coconut oil and breast milk. They suggest that lauric acid could aid in weight loss. Its effects on blood cholesterol levels still need to be examined more thoroughly.
Although, the research suggests that the benefits of lauric acid are a result of how the body uses the acid.
Additionally, butter has all these useful and essential vitamins—and it doesn’t turn into adipose tissue. What does that mean? It doesn’t clog your arteries.
NOTE: Adipose tissue, also known as body fat. Body fat is primarily known for storing and releasing energy and providing insulation throughout the body.
Some studies have found links between high-fat dairy products like butter and lower chances of obesity, diabetes, and heart problems.
Still, remember that butter is high in calories and saturated fat. Scientists have debated the health benefits of butter for decades, but recent studies have concluded that butter can be beneficial to your diet in moderation.
So, is butter good or bad for you?
In moderation, butter can be a healthy part of your diet. It’s rich in nutrients and vitamins like bone-building calcium and contains compounds linked to lower chances of obesity.
Butter can also be part of a low-carbohydrate diet, which may help people better maintain their weight or lose weight quicker than they would with a low-fat diet. So, with that said, continue to enjoy one of the many guilty pleasures in life.
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