Butter plays a starring role in many of our favorite recipes. It enhances flavor, keeps your food tender, and locks in moisture. But, as you probably already know, too much of a good thing can cause issues. That’s because the fat found in this creamy diary is saturated so it increases your risk of heart disease, stroke, obesity, and other chronic diseases. So it’s no wonder that there are plenty of healthy butter substitutes. But, what is the healthiest butter to eat?
To learn more, we spoke with Heather Dyc, a certified nutritionist. She said that the best butter for weight loss is organic, grass-fed or pasture-raised butter. It is high in healthy fats for weight loss, probiotics for gut health, and free from antibiotics, hormones, and other additives you don’t want in your food. Read on to learn more about this healthy butter and why regular butter is bad for weight loss!
Organic Grass-Fed Or Pasture-Raised Butter Is The Healthiest For Weight Loss
You've probably heard that butter is not ideal for weight loss, but do you know why? Dyc, who works at Circufiber, explains, "It's made mostly of milk fat—around 80% to be exact. It's also calorie-dense. A one-tablespoon serving contains 100 calories, 12 grams of fat, and 7 grams of saturated fat." Yikes! That's a lot of calories.
And, because butter is also a dairy product, it can be bad for your gut health. "Butter is also a dairy product, which tends to be hard to digest and highly inflammatory for some people. Aside from the calories you're getting from fat, butter doesn't contain fiber, antioxidants, or other bioactive compounds that are generally utilized for weight loss," she says. And, consuming butter like margarine can also dull your complexion and lead to premature aging.
That's why Dyc suggests looking for organic, grass-fed, or pasture-raised butter instead. "This means that the butter comes from cows that have been grass-fed most of their life, meaning it's higher in omega-3 fatty acids and lower in saturated fat," she notes. Omega-3 fatty acids are also found in fatty fish like salmon. It reduces cholesterol levels and has an anti-inflammatory effect on the body.
Dyc specifically recommends the organic, pasture-raised cultured butter from Organic Valley: Organic Valley Cultured Organic Pasture Butter. "In addition to being higher in healthy fats, it contains probiotics for gut health. It's also free from antibiotics, hormones, and other additives you don't want in your food," she adds.
You can easily incorporate this high-quality butter into your weight loss plans. Dyc tells us, "Try using a blend of butter and olive oil to cook your meats and vegetables in. The fats from these foods will help you absorb the antioxidants from the vegetables." Plus, it can make your food taste better, so you'll enjoy your vegetables more!
The Bottom Line
At the end of the day, just because regular butter can be fattening and inflammatory, that doesn't mean you can't have any creamy dairy. In fact, experts like Dyc recommend looking for organic, grass-fed, or pasture-raised butter the next time you're at the grocery store. Not only is this healthy butter just as tasty as its popular alternative, but it also contains probiotics for your gut health and healthy fats for weight loss.
