Ruminant Trans Fats
Unlike in processed foods, dairy trans fats are considered to be healthy.
Butter is the richest dietary source of dairy trans fats, also called ruminant trans fats, the most common of which are vaccenic acid and conjugated linoleic acid or CLA
CLA is a family of trans fats that has been associated with various health benefits (Studies in animals, and human cells in laboratory culture, indicate that CLA may protect against certain types of cancer
CLA may also promote and is actually sold as a weight loss supplement. However, not all studies support this
In addition, there are some concerns with large doses of as they may have harmful effects on metabolic
Adverse Effects
In conventional amounts, butter does not have many known adverse health effects.
However, eating butter in large amounts may very well lead to weight gain and associated health problems, especially in the context of a high calorie diet.
Milk Allergy
Although butter is very low in protein, it still contains enough of the allergenic to cause reactions.
Therefore, people with milk allergy should be careful with butter, or avoid it altogether.
Lactose Intolerance
Butter contains only trace amounts of lactose, so moderate consumption should be safe for most lactose intolerant people.
Cultured butter (made from fermented milk) and clarified butter contain even less lactose and may be more suitable.
Vitamins and Minerals
Butter is a rich source of several vitamins, especially those that are generally associated with fat.
The following vitamins are found in high amounts in butter:
Vitamin A: The most abundant vitamin in butter. One tablespoon (14 g) can provide about 11% of the daily recommended allowance (2).
Vitamin D: Butter is a good source of vitamin D.
Vitamin E: A powerful antioxidant, often found in fatty foods.
Vitamin B12: Also called cobalamin, vitamin B12 is only found in foods of animal origin, such as eggs, meat, and dairy products.
Vitamin K2: A form of vitamin K, also called menaquinone. May protect against cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis