Butter

Is butter good for you? In the past, people thought butter was unhealthy because it has saturated fat, which meant it was harmful to the heart.¹ But nowadays, we know better. When eaten in moderation, butter can be good for you.² It provides quality fats and vitamins that are essential to your body.

So, even though butter used to have a bad reputation, now it can be part of a balanced diet, including the Bulletproof diet. In fact, Bulletproof started with our founder enjoying butter in coffee while travelling in Tibet. He returned to the United States and developed our signature recipe for Bulletproof coffee. This recipe includes Grass-Fed Ghee or butter.

Read on to learn about butter nutrition and butter benefits. You’ll also discover the difference between ghee vs. butter and how butter can play an important role in your keto or low-carbohydrate diet.

Butter is a dairy product made by churning cream or milk, separating the solid fats from the liquid, known as buttermilk. It’s easy to make—you can even make butter yourself at home. It’s primarily comprised of milk fat, with a small amount of water and milk solids. It’s made up of saturated fats, which are solid at room temperature and mainly derived from animal sources.

What’s the difference between saturated and unsaturated fats? Unsaturated fats, like those found in vegetable oils, are liquid at room temperature and primarily come from plant sources. Saturated fats may increase LDL cholesterol if you eat too many. Unsaturated fats, found in foods like olive oil, can improve heart health by lowering LDL cholesterol levels.³

Although butter contains saturated fats, it has many beneficial nutrients that may contribute to a balanced diet. So, what are the health benefits of butter?

A low-carb, high-protein, high-fat diet may help certain people manage their blood sugar levels, according to a recent scientific study.¹⁰ After six weeks, participants showed better blood sugar control and reduced fat in the liver compared to those who had followed a regular diet. Including butter in a low-carb diet could help improve certain health-related concerns.

A recent four-week study on middle-aged individuals found that eating butter increased LDL cholesterol levels. LDL is considered bad for the heart. Butter did this more than coconut oil and olive oil.¹¹ But, compared to coconut oil and olive oil, butter did not cause any significant changes in weight, BMI or body fat percentage. This study shows that different types of fats in our food can affect your cholesterol levels in different ways. It’s not only about one type of food or nutrient, but also about your overall eating habits when it comes to keeping your heart healthy.

Butter is a source of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), which was linked to weight management in a recent scientific study of 74 obese or overweight women.¹² The results showed that the women who took CLA supplements had less fat in various parts of their bodies, like around their organs and in areas like the belly and hips. Adding foods to your diet that contain CLA might help support weight-loss goals.

Scientific research on butter is ongoing, but we’re already convinced that butter can play an important role in the Bulletproof diet.

At Bulletproof, we love butter because it is nutrient-dense and a versatile ingredient. Plus, because it is high-fat and low-carb, it aligns with our keto-style diet. Butter can help keep your body in a state of ketosis, where your body burns fat for fuel instead of carbohydrates.

Plus, butter is the star ingredient of Bulletproof coffee, our signature drink. Adding grass-fed butter and MCT oil to your coffee is one of our favorite ways to support sustained energy and mental clarity to power your day. High-quality butter could contribute to your overall well-being.

Spotlight on Butter

We choose our ingredients and products based on how they can help you optimize your mental and physical wellness goals. Butter is one of those ingredients that not only tastes amazing but also offers quite a few benefits. It’s a no-brainer when it comes to including butter in a high-fat, low-carb approach to eating, like the Bulletproof diet.

Did you know that butter can also contribute to healthy skin? Butter contains vitamin A, which is essential for maintaining a smooth complexion. Vitamin A helps regulate cell production and turnover. This, in turn, promotes skin renewal and prevents dryness and flakiness.¹³ It also supports the repair of damaged skin tissues, helping you put your best face forward.

But not all butter is created equal. Look for high-quality butter made from milk sourced from grass-fed cows, as it tends to have higher nutritional content. Look for organic options to limit exposure to harmful chemicals and ensure a more natural product. Choose unsalted butter with a rich, golden color and smooth texture. It’s best if it is from small-batch producers known for quality.

At Bulletproof, our butter comes in the form of Grass-Fed Ghee, which we produce with strict testing and sourcing standards.

Our Product Testing Standards

We want to provide you with the highest-quality ingredients and products, which includes our grass-fed ghee. To ensure we make the best version of butter we can, we turn to third-party labs that objectively evaluate everything from source ingredients to finished product composition.

All of our supplements go through four layers of science-backed testing. First, we look at the identity of the ingredients to check that they are present and not diluted. Then, we make sure that the product is safe from unwanted contaminants by testing for purity. After that, we test for strength to ensure the product has the right amount of active ingredients. And the last step is composition testing to ensure that the product meets all specifications in the label. Our extensive testing process takes time. This means you can trust that our products are safe, effective and accurately labelled.