For most of our time on this earth, butter has been seen as a powerful, healthy food. A simple, one ingredient, healthy fat. Most of us can remember growing up how our parents or grandparents used butter in everything. And no one batted an eye about it. Then, suddenly, butter is bad for you? 

If you’re in the Carnivore community, you know that isn’t true. Butter, and other healthy fats, are actually good for you. But maybe you’re not a Carnivore, and you are confused about butter. Or maybe you’re curious about why butter has been so demonised. 

Let’s take a look at how that all got started. 

Follow the money

In the early 1900’s, big food companies began pushing seed oils. 

They advertised seed oils as “cleaner” and “healthier” than butter. Man made margarine was promoted as better than the natural butter we’d always eaten. And we bought it, the false marketing and the products. 

Then along came a man named Ancel Keys. He ran a very flawed “Seven Countries Study,” and came to the conclusion that eating saturated fat (as in butter) raised cholesterol and caused heart disease. 

The problem with his “study” was that he only chose countries that fitted with his theory, and ignored those that didn’t. It didn’t matter, though, because the food industry loved it and ran with it. It made it easy for them to sell their seed oils. 

The low-fat craze

By the 1970’s and 80’s, the United States had adopted “low-fat” guidelines. 

Butter, as well as things like red meat and eggs, were now the enemy. We were told that saturated fats caused heart disease, and that we should eat grains, cereals, and low-fat, processed foods. 

In other words, foods that would make the food industry richer. 

But the truth of it is that no controlled, independent, scientific study ever proved that butter caused heart disease. In fact, many of the studies that found no link between saturated fats and heart disease were ignored. 

But the low-fat message continued to be pushed. People stopped eating butter and opted for seed oils, instead. And obesity and metabolic disease have been on the rise ever since. 

The real problem 

While fat was being blamed, sugar and processed foods skyrocketed. 

It should be common sense: replacing real, whole foods with man made ingredients, how could we ever expect that to be a better option? How could we not expect that to backfire with dangerous results? 

Thankfully, over the last 20 years or so, studies (and anecdotal evidence) have shown that saturated fats like butter do not cause heart disease. In fact, saturated fats actually support heart health. 

And we now know that seed oils, sugars, and processed foods are the real culprits that drive obesity and metabolic disease. 

Remember, also, that correlation does not equal causation. 

In other words, just because someone eats butter and that person has heart disease, it does not mean the butter caused the heart disease. Anymore than someone eating ice cream on the beach in the summer means that ice cream causes sunburn. 

What is this person having with the butter? What does the rest of the diet look like?

Why butter is good for you

Carnivore or not, butter is a perfect food:

• Butter is a single-ingredient, whole food

• Energy dense

• Easy to digest 

• High-quality fuel with zero carbs 

• Supports hormones

• Helps with satiety 

• Improves absorption of fat-soluble vitamins

• Adds flavour without toxins or seed oils 

Disclaimer: As with anything else, we are not giving medical advice. If you have medical conditions such as diabetes or heart disease, or you are on medications, always check in with your doctor before you make any changes to your diet. 

Conclusion 

The bad rap that butter got was not based on strong, scientific studies. It came from flawed studies and greed. And low-fat guidelines have done nothing but increase obesity and metabolic disease. 

Ditch the seed oils and processed foods. Eat the butter. Your body will thank you.