Retinol Vitamin A Indispensable for Hearing Loss

Well, the more I read the better I am informed.  I can't always say that.  I read lots of articles and reports that are false, misleading, or oversell a vitamin or food.  Lots of misinformation out there that needs a conflicting opinion and some revision.  The other type of reports I come across consist of omitted data.  For example, when science and nutrition reporters tell us that Vitamin A is excellent for eyesight, they often point to the Vitamin A found in fruits and vegetables or phytonutrients, that nutrient being beta-carotene.  There are at least two kinds of Vitamin A that I am aware of--Retinol Vitamin A you get from animal meats and Beta Carotene Vitamin A obtained from fruits and vegetables, carrots being the most often hyped vegetable for its Vitamin A content. 

I found an article on the value of Vitamin A from Bill Sardi through Sally Fallon.  Fallon's article is elegant, concise, and to the point.  Sardi's article presents the data behind the finding--that Retinol Vitamin A is essential for treatment and to reverse hearing loss.  But a lot depends on those terms.  And not just Vitamin A Retinol tablets once or twice a week, though I am sure that even that small amount would work, but incorporating Vitamin A into daily meals.  See the list of Retinol Vitamin A foods below.  Not as difficult as you might first think.  Do you like liver--chicken or beef liver?  That is your Retinol Vitamin A powerhouse. Powerhouse because the other Vitamin Bs in liver produce a beautiful effect on muscle, nerves, and other tissue.  Also, fish oils.  Not all fish oils are created equal.  "Fish Oils" means you get all the parts of a fish, liver, brains, kidneys, everything.  Some manufacturers claim superior purity, but will have no liver in their fish oils.  It sounds to me that the liver of the fish is what you're after when you want Retinol Vitamin A.

First, here is Fallon's article published in October 2014, six months ago:

In these pages, we often report on vitamin A—that most necessary of all nutrients, found in very high levels in primitive diets but declared toxic by modern dietary authorities. Vitamin A supports vibrant health in so many ways—from formation and development of the fetus to hormone production to healthy eyes, skin and bones. A new report summarizes research showing that vitamin A supports a preventive, therapeutic and even regenerative role in hearing loss, and can even allay tinnitus—ringing in the ears. For example, a French study from as early as 1823 found that hearing levels were better among those who consumed the most vitamin A and also vitamin B12 from various foods, including red meat. A 1984 European study reported a 5-15 decibel improvement in patients with age-related hearing loss when given vitamins A and E. Other researchers reported that vitamin A deficiency results in a decline in the number of sensory cells in the nose, tongue and inner ear. A 1993 study reported in Science found that vitamin A can stimulate the regeneration of mammalian auditory hair cells. In 2009, Japanese researchers found that adults with the highest blood serum levels of vitamin A and carotenoids have the lowest risk for hearing loss. And, in 2014, researchers determined that vitamin A deficiency during pregnancy, especially during the early stages of fetal development “may predispose offspring to inner ear malformations and sensorial hearing loss.” These studies and several others are detailed in a fascinating report by Bill Sardi at knowledgeofhealth.com, May 21, 2014.

Next, here are a few key points from Sardi's article:

In the 1993 Science report researchers said: “sensorial hearing loss resulting from the loss of auditory hair cells is thought to be irreversible in mammals.  This study provides evidence that retinoic acid (Vitamin A) can stimulate the regeneration in vitro [in a lab dish] of mammalian auditory hair cells” in poisoned ear tissues of the lab rat.  “These results provide hope for recovery of hearing function in mammals after auditory hair cell damage,” said the report.  [Science April 30, 1993].  

FOOD SOURCES of VITAMIN A ABSORB READILY

Eat raw butter, egg yolks, liver from animals, cod liver oil, and heavy cream from grassfed cows.

What are true vitamin A foods – the foods that give the body retinol, not carotenes?

Liver from any animal, enjoy pasture-raised liver 2-3 times per week or take desiccated liver capsules daily.

    

     Fermented Cod Liver Oil, which is higher in vitamins (I recommend the Cinnamon Tingleflavor).    

     

     Regular Cod Liver Oil, the Weston A Price Foundation suggests this specific brand of cod liver oil capsules if the fermented option cannot be purchased. (However, there is some controversy that this cod liver oil is now stripped of the naturally-occurring vitamins during processing.)

     

     Egg yolks from hens foraging in pasture, ideally enjoy 2-4 egg yolks per day (Don’t worry about the cholesterol).

    

     Butter from grassfed cows. 

    

     Heavy cream from grassfed cows.

Sardi continues:

Another report said: “morphological (form and structure) experiments reveal different and in some ways contradictory results, but they showed that vitamin A seems to be essential for inner ear morpohogenesis.”  [Z Ernahrungswiss (European Journal Nutrition) June 1984].

. . .

By 1990 researchers fed two groups of guinea pigs a vitamin A-deficient and supplemented diet and reported that the vitamin A-fed group had greater sensitivity to sounds.  [Journal NutritionJuly 1990].  The researchers puzzlingly concluded that Vitamin A may increase the probability of noise-induced hearing loss without recognizing Vitamin A must be regenerative in some manner.  

VITAMIN A INJECTIONS?  A POWERFUL OPTION SAYS SARDI . . . 

In 2012 researchers at the University of Southern California reported on the use of Vitamin A injections (200,000 international units) among poorly nourished school children in Nepal.  It is assumed frequent childhood inner-ear infections would induce hearing loss.  Among children who had experienced inner ear infections, the Vitamin A-treated children were 42% less likely to have experienced hearing loss than non-vitamin-treated children.  [British Medical Journal Jan. 10, 2012]

"liver provides . . . An unidentified anti-fatigue factor."

Because of its Retinol A content and its saturation of important Vitamin Bs, liver maybe the best food for any kind of repair--from injury, from illnesses, from regular sports workouts.  

Two authors that I love are Sarah Corriher and her brother C. Thomas Corriher over at Healthwyze.  Ever since I followed their recommendation on removing a kidney stone with lemon juice and olive oil I was a convert.  From that point on I could not believe the wealth of knowledge they have at their site.  And it is well-visited and well-viewed.  They have plenty of healthy traffic, commentors and a few products to sell.  I love their site.  

At their site I found an article on the nutritional benefits of liver.  They argued that because the livers are the organ that filters out disease and toxic substances that the livers themselves may not be so edible.  The article was titled "Quick Tip: You Should Never Eat Liver."  I commented about it here. And I think that they are right.  That the organ meats, and especially the liver, should not be eaten regularly. But gosh darn it all if I don't feel better and fortified after each time I eat chicken livers.  I always feel better. Whether that is because I am on occasion Vitamin B deficient I don't know.  But every time I eat chicken livers my muscles and nerves feel great.  

Writing for Weston A. Price, Lynn Razaitis refers to livers as "a sacred food."  She writes:

Since history began, “liver has ranked above all other offal as one of the most prized culinary delights. Its heritage is illustrious–whether savored by young warriors after a kill or mixed with truffles and cognac for fine patés de foie gras.” So write Margaret Gin and Jana Allen, authors of Innards and Other Variety Meats (San Francisco, 1974).

Then a list of the nutritional benefits are posted:

So what makes liver so wonderful? Quite simply, it contains more nutrients, gram for gram, than any other food. In summary, liver provides:

·         

    1.  An excellent source of high-quality protein.

    2.  Nature’s most concentrated source of vitamin A.

    3.  All the B vitamins in abundance, particularly vitamin B12. 

    4.  One of our best sources of folic acid.

    5.  A highly usable form of iron.

    6.  Trace elements such as copper, zinc and chromium; liver is our best source of copper.

    7.  An unidentified anti-fatigue factor.

    8.   CoQ10, a nutrient that is especially important for cardio-vascular function.  

    9.  good source of purines, nitrogen-containing compounds that serve as precursors for DNA and RNA.

The author of the Weston A. Price article, Lynn Razaitis, in fact, addresses the toxicity issue raised by Corriher:

In spite of widespread tradition and abundant scientific evidence on the health benefits of liver, conventional nutritionists and government agencies now warn against its consumption. The putative dangers of eating liver stem from two concerns–the assumption that liver contains many toxins and the high level of vitamin A that it provides.

One of the roles of the liver is to neutralize toxins (such as drugs, chemical agents and poisons); but the liver does not store toxins. Poisonous compounds that the body cannot neutralize and eliminate are likely to lodge in the fatty tissues and the nervous system. The liver is not a storage organ for toxins but it is a storage organ for many important nutrients (vitamins A, D, E, K, B12 and folic acid, and minerals such as copper and iron). These nutrients provide the body with some of the tools it needs to get rid of toxins.

Of course, we should consume liver from healthy animals–cattle, lamb, buffalo, hogs, chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese. The best choice is liver from animals that spend their lives outdoors and on pasture. If such a premier food is not available, the next choice is organic chicken, beef and calves liver. If supermarket liver is your only option, the best choice is calves liver, as in the U.S. beef cattle do spend their first months on pasture. Beef liver is more problematical as beef cattle are finished in feed lots. Livers from conventionally raised chicken and hogs are not recommended.

[end of Razaitis' remarks]

So according to Razaitis, the liver itself does not "store toxins"; instead, it "neutralizes them.  Does this mean then that the toxicity of liver meats is exaggerated or innocuous?  I mean how many people have gotten sick from eating chicken liver?  I have not.  So Corriher's argument is interesting, but it is not convincing.  Given my experience with eating chicken livers, I find them to be absolutely necessary for health and longevity.

I am sold on liver.  I like its Vitamin A content and how rich it is in Vitamin B.  For strength, it may be unbeatable.  If you are an athlete who is getting beaten up and dragged on the basketball court you may want to consider incorporating the kinds of liver recommended by Razaitis and Weston A. Price.

ZINC SUPPLEMENTATION IS ABSOLUTELY VITAL FOR PREGNANT WOMEN

"Zinc supplementation is absolutely vital for pregnant women."

By Sarah C. Corriher

"According to many pharmacists, zinc is the single greatest dietary supplement. Chemists, pharmacists and doctors alike glorify zinc supplementation. Some of them maintain that zinc will ward off all sickness. While this is not entirely true, zinc does nonetheless fight the rhinovirus, which is responsible for about a third of the common colds in adults, along with many other illnesses which exhibit flu-like symptoms. Zinc boosts the overall immune system to fight infections and speed recovery times. It is, therefore, a useful supplement for almost everyone. Deficiencies of zinc have been shown in studies to lead to decreased thyroid hormone levels, and hypothyroidism. Zinc supplementation is absolutely vital for pregnant women. If zinc was given to every mother-to-be, then a large portion of birth abnormalities, pre-eclampsia occurrences, and deformations could be avoided. Give zinc the same respect that you would give to folate (the superior version of folic acid) and calcium during pregnancy."

Okay, so zinc is excellent for the immune system.  But which is the best form of zinc to take?

BEST FORM OF ZINC
"Zinc sulfate and zinc oxide are among the most popular types of zinc [. . . ], but they are definitely not the best . . . . Zinc orotate is a chelated form of zinc that is more readily absorbed by the body than any other zinc supplement available. Manufacturers of it will usually boast about having this type, because they have good reason to. Zinc orotate passes through the membranes of cells easily, and it pulls the highest amounts of accompanying minerals into the cells, which leads to higher tissue concentrations of zinc and other beneficial nutrients." 

BEST FOOD SOURCES OF ZINC  

"Excellent food sources of zinc include cashews, almonds, kidney beans, flounder, and eggs." 

ZINC'S CONNECTION TO COPPER
Corriher explains that zinc works best in the presence of copper.  But avoid straight copper supplements she says.  Instead, use chlorophyll.
  

ChlorOxygen, recommended by Sarah
Corriher.

"The human body needs copper to properly utilize zinc, so zinc supplementation will yield poor results during a time of copper deficiency. Unfortunately, it is unsafe to supplement with copper directly. It is far too easy to overdose and to cause serious liver problems with direct copper consumption. There are unscrupulous individuals who sell colloidal copper for internal consumption on the Internet, but we warn you to beware of such scoundrels. You will find them astroturfing Internet forums with miraculous stories, and stories are just what they are. The safe way to supplement with copper is to get it indirectly through chlorophyll supplements. Chlorophyll contains enough copper to make a huge difference, and it includes compounds that work with the copper for its best utilization. It is virtually impossible to get an overdose through chlorophyll, and it helps health in many other ways."

ZINC OROTATE: IN WHAT DOSES?
Healthwyze recommends just using zinc orotate. Around 50mg each day should be an ideal amount. Be sure to get plenty of iron from dietary sources too.  

I recommend Optizinc.  Be sure to read the real benefits of zinc here.  You'll need supplementation.  

UPDATE . . . Monday, July 9, 2018.  When using the word "best" to describe any vitamin supplement what that refers to is absorbability.  For that IS the very reason for taking vitamins in the first place.  We take vitamins because we don't get enough or therapeutic levels of a certain nutrient to repair and restore, that, in fact, we are operating on low-level nutritional status.  What nutritional journalists refer to as deficiencies.  For zinc, there are two great forms: Zinc Acetate, which usually comes in those cold lozenges, and OptiZinc, which is methionine-bound zinc.  iHerb explains that " L-OptiZinc is a form of methionine-bound zinc that increases the bioavailability of zinc."

L-OptiZinc is the only high-potency zinc supplement FDA approved safe for human nutrition. L-OptiZinc is also an approved form of zinc for use in the EU in food supplements. In general, zinc is an essential mineral involved in regulating a large [number] of enzymes in the body. It is known as an antioxidant and immune boosting supplement and is most commonly supplemented to reduce the frequency of sickness and to support optimal testosterone levels. Zinc is highly involved in many enzyme systems in the body. Keeping normal zinc levels helps with the maintenance of these enzyme systems and acts as a hormonal and immune system aid. High dose zinc in response to the common cold (not taken preventatively, but only at the onset of sickness) appears to be effective in reducing the duration and severity of sickness. Zinc is also known to be circulating at lower levels in persons with acne relative to those without, and it is thought to be therapeutic by reducing the migration of immune cells to the skin and possibly reducing the effects of androgens on the skin. A number of trials using zinc for acne control note that standard to high supplemental dosages have a modest protective effect. L-OptiZinc is a form of methionine-bound zinc that increases the bioavailability of zinc. Methionine is the amino acid best absorbed by the body. L-OptiZinc is standardized to 20% zinc, consists of zinc bound to the more bioavailable "L" form of methionine. Some preclinical studies show that L-OptiZinc is absorbed better, retained longer and are more effective than other zinc supplements tested. Taking everything into account, I highly recommend this high-quality product manufactured by Now Foods with the reasonable price offered by iHerb. A single dose per day is what you need. I hope you'll find my review helpful to you. I am a strong advocate for scientific medical research and evidence-based information, and constantly want to differentiate between marketing hyperbole and real-world effects. If you like my review, please kindly click ‘Yes’. And also, please feel free to check out my page for more reviews by clicking my name 3827GreenWood at the top of this review. Best wishes and good health to everyone!  

Just make sure that OptiZinc is part of your daily multivitamin.

"A serving of organic spinach would be significantly more effective and safer than an aspirin a day."

This was interesting.  I, too, for years heard that aspirin was beneficial for circulation.  The last time I took aspirin was several years ago on a recommendation from Dr. Barry Sears, who recommended taking half a baby aspirin with fish oils to achieve excellent pain relief.  And it did.  I have had the best pain relief from this combination, and have never since taken any adult aspirin. 

But C. Thomas Corriher at Healthwyze.com says that aspirin is not good. He writes:

For years, we have been told that an aspirin a day keeps the heart attacks away. The poor science behind this belief is seriously flawed. 

Nevertheless, Bayer pharmaceuticals has had a heyday marketing aspirin to doctors and the public for preventative medicine. As a result of this marketing which twisted the results of otherwise valid studies, virtually every orthodox doctor in the United States now recommends aspirin to customers who have experienced heart problems. Millions of people ridiculously believe that heart attacks are caused by an aspirin deficiency.

Cashews are a rich source of magnesium.

The original studies from 1974 through 1988 showed that aspirin was not helpful for cardiovascular diseases. Then in 1989, another study was done, which tested aspirin that was buffered with magnesium (Bufferin brand). This type of aspirin, which acted as a magnesium supplement, reduced heart attacks by 44%. Since then, aspirin (not magnesium) has been recommended for those who have an increased risk of heart attacks. The magnesium content of the buffered aspirin that was used in the paradigm-shifting study was completely ignored; since after all, only a pharmaceutical could benefit health. Magnesium was institutionally ignored, even though it was the only differing ingredient in the aspirin that actually worked.

While some heart attacks can be prevented by the magnesium in buffered aspirin, the number of aneurysms and other internal bleeding issues rise proportionally because of the aspirin itself, to make the overall death rate about the same as those not 'supplementing' with aspirin. In other words, by recommending aspirin instead of magnesium, the establishment kills about as many people as they save; because they are going to great lengths to avoid promoting competing nutritional medicine.

Spinach is a rich source of magnesium.

A serving of organic spinach would be significantly more effective and safer than an aspirin a day. Magnesium is necessary for healthy heart function, and it is lacking in Western diets. Multiple studies have shown that magnesium reduces the risk of coronary heart disease and balances the heart rhythm.

"Vitamin A is the single most important vitamin for good vision, and eye development."

C. Thomas Corriher writes:

Beef contains vitamin A and Iron in readily absorbable organic formats.  Vitamin A is the single most important vitamin for good vision, and eye development.  While most people think of carrots as our primary source, there is tremendously more vitamin A to be found inside red meat, and vitamin A is not well absorbed from vegetable sources.  The type of vitamin A that is found in vegetables (beta-carotene) must first be converted to another form by the liver before it can be used by the body.  It is this type of vitamin A and the type found in dietary supplements, which results in vitamin A poisoning with large doses.  Just like in the case of non-organic iron, too much vegetable beta-carotene (vitamin A) can cause serious health problems, and can eventually prove fatal due to the burden on the liver.

However, retinol, the form of vitamin A which is found inside meat, particularly beef, has never been linked to overdoses.  The massive amounts of vitamin A that are found in beef should theoretically be capable of killing or causing serious symptoms (hair loss, disorientation, dizziness, peeling of the skin, jaundice, and etc.) if it were present as beta-carotene.  Yet no person has ever died from a steak overdose.  That is because organic protein-based retinol is easily absorbed and effectively utilized by the body, and any excess is easily flushed out.

The hysteria surrounding the dangers of iron has been ongoing for decades, due to children who ate iron supplements and died, or became seriously ill.  Men cannot eliminate iron properly, which is believed to be one of the main reasons for their shorter life expectancies.  However, iron remains a vital mineral, and is used by the body to carry oxygen to the cells.

Like with vitamin A, iron is poorly absorbed from vegetables, and a deficiency can result in anemia; which causes fatigue, dizziness, headaches, and cold sensitivities.  On a side note, the ability of iron to move oxygen throughout the cells explains why severe anemic patients have an increased risk of cancer, due to oxygen starvation and the acidosis it causes.  Nobel Prize winner Dr. Otto Warburg hypothesized that resveratrol (found in grapes, particularly muscadine) frees iron, enabling some men to live longer.  (This is the secret behind how red wines improve health.)  That relationship has now been proven again in modern studies.  Avoid drinking milk with meat (as forbidden by the Bible) for this prevents the absorption of iron.

Sylvia Onusic Reviews Barnard's Book . . . 

"Many researchers have linked low cholesterol levels to behavioral aberrations such as violent crime and suicide, as well as depression. Cholesterol is one of the body’s main building materials, in particular in the brain and nervous system, for building nerve cells. It is also the primary “stuff” from which hormones and bile are made. The specious high-cholesterol theory came out of misunderstood evidence from the famous Framingham Study. Yet when researchers examined the same subjects thirty years later they determined that high cholesterol was not a risk factor for older people, and more than twenty studies have in fact demonstrated that older people with higher cholesterol live the longest."

. . . 

Iron is absolutely necessary for human life. Without iron, cells will die. About one-half of iron in the body is contained in hemoglobin needed for oxygen transport. The body has mechanisms to tightly control iron usage in the body and to protect it from pathogenic bacteria. Iron is critical for the pregnant woman and her unborn child. Iron deficiency anemia is caused by lack of iron in the diet and absorption issues. Phytates in vegetables and tannins in black tea inhibit the absorption of iron.

. . . 

Although he mentions in passing the fatsoluble vitamins D (as a supplement) and K (only in its relationship to the blood-thinning drug warfarin), Bernard ignores the major roles of the fat-soluble vitamins in health and neglects to mention vitamin A at all. Not one reference to pre-formed vitamin A can be found in the book. Because these vitamins need fats to be utilized and are obviously found in animal foods, they do not conveniently fit into his ordained dietary paradigm and are therefore omitted or trivialized.

. . . 

New research shows that individuals with fasting blood sugar levels at the high end of normal are at risk for brain shrinkage and diabetes. It is well known that glucose control decreases and incidence of diabetes increases with aging. In fact, research strongly links high glucose levels to Alzheimer’s disease. It is high carbohydrate consumption that raises glucose levels in the blood. Alzheimer’s patients benefit from daily ingestion of coconut oil because it appears that their brains can no longer use glucose for fuel. This important finding is not mentioned in the book, perhaps because coconut oil contains saturated fat and does not fit into his model that “the brain runs on carbohydrates.”

One thing I did learn today that came out of this review is that there is a difference in the nutrient quality between fish oils and fish liver oils.  For example, I take the Zone Labs Fish Oils.  I get benefits from them.  I like their effect.  No complaints.  But I learned today that Cod Liver Oil, oil from that specific organ of the fish, has a lot of Vitamin A or Retinol, a fat-soluble vitamin that is very good for major organs that benefits people of all ages but particularly the elderly.  What does this mean?  It means that you will receive different nutritional benefits from cod liver oil versus fish oils.  Just a concluding note.  The Zone Labs fish oils is derived from mackerel, sardines, and anchovies, the smaller fish.

". . . Tooth decay . . . is often a symptom of a phosphorus deficiency."

Get your phosphorous from meats, fish, and dairy products.

from Healthwyze: Vitamin C when taken internally actually strengthens teeth, and the rest of the body. However, it should never be kept in direct contact with the teeth. We strongly recommend for those who are brushing their teeth with citrus formulas to discontinue immediately. Fluoride-free toothpastes which contain calcium carbonate are ideal for long-term dental health and for tooth whiteness. Toothpastes containing phosphorus (phosphates) are even better.

Tooth Nutrients

Those who suddenly start experiencing tooth decay should know that it is often a symptom of a phosphorus deficiency. It is a common problem for vegetarians. Phosphorus is best obtained through meats, fish, and dairy products. It is in seeds and some nuts, but not in sufficient quantities. Fructose causes a decrease in phosphorus, which is one reason why sugar seems to cause cavities. Technically, sugars and carbohydrates can be harmful too, but the greatest factor is the connection between phosphorus depletion and the intake of fructose.

Those suffering from periodontal diseases such as gingivitis should look in the direction of CoQ10. Gingivitis sufferers are invariably deficient in co-enzyme Q10. It has shown good success with topical application, so mouth rinses are now available with this ingredient. In addition, CoQ10 is created by the body during exercise. Chlorophyll can also reverse gum disease, and it was once an ingredient of popular toothpastes.

Ubiquinol is a more absorbent form of CoQ10.

Koreans Taste American Snack Foods

Comments are telling.

Don't Remove Wisdom Teeth

"The more teeth . . . an individual has, the longer he can retain information."

Biology is so interesting . . . .

The more teeth that an individual has, the longer he can retain information. In particular, healthy mouths are closely correlated with people having excellent short-term memory. Researchers are baffled by this and research is ongoing. The main hypothesis is related to the fact that dentists cut the nerves that rest behind the teeth during extractions. These nerves are believed to be directly connected to brain tissues, and cutting them may kill, or at least injure certain regions of the 

brain.

"While carrying out their experiments on animals, our Japanese colleagues managed to prove that whenever a doctor extracts a tooth, he also pulls out the nerve that stretches to the brain"

-- Prof. Ian Begdahl, University of Umea

Studies of rats have shown that tooth transplants do not return lost memory, lending credence to the presiding hypothesis.  Perhaps most interesting is that the loss of memory does not occur whenever a tooth simply falls out naturally. It only occurs when it is forced out through brute force trauma, whether that be from a brawl or dental work. The current research shows that memory problems are increased for every tooth that is pulled. Dental procedures may be responsible for most 

of the memory problems that are attributed to aging.

Butter Is Major Source of Heart-Healthy Nutrients

Butter is one of the healthiest fats on the planet.

It’s not just a big pile of yellow-colored fat, there are many important nutrients in there, some of which have potent biological effects.

However, this does depend on the type of butter, and the amounts of these nutrients vary greatly depending on what the cows ate.

Butter From Grass-Fed Cows is a Major Source of Heart-Healthy Nutrients

Butter is basically just milk fat, also known as butterfat.

Butterfat is highly complex. It contains about 400 different fatty acids, and a decent amount of fat-soluble vitamins (1).

Fatty acids are actually more than just energy sources, some of them have potent biological activity.

As it turns out, many of the fatty acids in butter can affect our physiology and biochemistry in some way, leading to major health benefits.

This includes the fatty acid CLA (conjugated linoleic acid). It is popular as a fat loss supplement, and studies show that it can have powerful effects on health (2, 3).

Grass-fed butter contains 5 times more CLA than butter from grain-fed cows (4).

Butter from grass-fed cows is also much higher in Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin K2, compared to butter from grain-fed cows (5).

As you can see, butter from grass-fed cows is a much healthier and more nutritious choice.

Butter Contains Saturated Fat, But Who Cares?

Butter used to be considered unhealthy, because it contains saturated fat.

However, this is actually not a valid argument against butter, because the saturated fat myth has been thoroughly debunked in recent years.

Two massive review studies were published recently, one in 2010 and the other in 2014. Both included hundreds of thousands of people.

These studies clearly showed that there is no association between saturated fat consumption and heart disease(6, 7).

Studies Show That People Who Eat Grass-Fed Butter Have a Lower Risk of Heart Disease

In countries where cows are largely grass-fed, the people who eat the most butter seem to have a drastically reduced risk of heart disease.The relationship between full-fat dairy consumption and heart disease seems to depend on the country in which the study is performed.

An impressive study on this was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, in the year 2010:

Smit LA, et al. Conjugated linoleic acid in adipose tissue and risk of myocardial infarction. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2010.

This study looked at the levels of CLA in the fat tissue of 1813 non-fatal heart attack patients, and compared them to 1813 similar subjects who had not gotten heart attacks.

Levels of this fatty acid are a very reliable marker for the intake of fatty dairy products, and this study was done in Costa Rica, where cows are grass-fed.

They split the subjects into 5 groups, from lowest to highest, depending on their levels of CLA. The results were fairly remarkable:

As you can see, the more full-fat dairy (like butter) people ate, the lower their risk of heart attack.

In fact, the people who ate the most were 49% less likely to experience a heart attack, compared to those who ate the least.

However, keep in mind that this was a case-control study, a type of observational study. These types of studies can not prove causation.

This study shows that people who eat more grass-fed dairy fat have a lower risk of heart disease, but it can not prove that dairy fat caused the reduction in risk.

But, at the very least, this study is pretty good reassurance that butter is NOT the devil it was made out to be.

Many Other Studies Have Shown Similar Results

This is far from being the only study.

Another study from Australia showed that people who ate the most full-fat dairy had a 69% lower risk of heart disease than people who ate the least (8).

Several other studies in European countries, where cows are generally grass-fed, have shown that dairy fat is linked to reduced heart attacks and strokes (9, 10).

Grass-Fed Butter is Super Healthy

Despite having been demonized in the past, real grass-fed butter is one of the healthiest fats on the planet. Period.

Editors note: Click here to Find a Local Farmer

DR. MICHAEL EADES ON THE CHOLESTEROL MYTH: "THAT'S NOT SCIENCE, THAT'S MARKETING"

Find more information on the video and on how statins are the wrong decision for managing cholesterol. The whole cholesterol problem is a myth. Cholesterol is produced by every cell in your body.  Also, cholesterol is a soft, waxy substance that lines your blood vessels; it's used in repair not congestion of vessels.  On the contrary, you need cholesterol for healthy hormones. Cholesterol helps your hormones with signaling between organs. Cholesterol helps your organs communicate more efficiently. How is that a bad thing? Statins, on the other hand, are bad for you. They cause memory problems. They reduce the strength and efficiency of your heart.

You know from your own experience that the taste of food is part of its enjoyment.  Most people like the taste of eggs, whether they're are sunnyside up, fried, scrambled, cooked in eggs and cheese and formed into a quiche, deviled eggs, or hard boiled and mixed with ham for a delicious sandwich spread.  Most people like eggs.  They taste good regardless of what you put on them.  So taste is an indicator of a food having healthy properties.

You also know that cheese tastes good.  And bacon.  And a hamburger that has a nice fat to protein ratio so that the burger has flavor.  Too many of the packaged burger meats you find in the supermarket today are 15% fat or less.  With that amount of fat there is so little flavor.  Go back to enjoying life.  Eat foods with flavor.  Eat beef with fat.  Eat bacon. Eat your favorite cheese.  And eat cholesterol rich eggs.  Key is don't over do it and avoid breads.  Find a way to enjoy these foods on a bed of spinach.  Your body will love you for it.

You Have All the Risk—Manufacturers Have No Liability

One cannot help but be shocked by that headline.  But it is one that is accurate when it comes to vaccines.  Regardless of how you feel about the safety or lacking thereof of vaccines, I do not like that ethical arrangement in which the consumer accepts 100% of the risk while the manufacturers have 0% of the liability.  What does that mean?

It means that if you or your child gets sick from the ingredients that appear inside a vaccine, you are out of luck.  It means that you cannot sue the drug manufacturer or the retailer who sold you the vaccine.  I can't think of any other market in which the consumer has zero protections.  

Dr. Tenpenny explains . . . 

Called “Division E—Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREPA)” Senator Frist (a medical doctor) handed the drug companies (a special interest group) more immunity than any bill that has ever been passed by Congress.

The legislation provides at least sweeping provisions:

1.   Immunity from all liability.  In the event of an outbreak of any kind, all drugs, vaccines or biological products are completely protected, even if it kills you. The definition is so broad it could include OTC pills such as Tylenol, Advil . . . and would have applied to Vioxx.

2.   The Secretary of HHS has complete authority to declare and emergency. The Secretary of HHS is an appointed, non-medical person who has not accountability to the general public. The president’s hand-picked teammate will have the power to mandate vaccines and other medications for the American people.

3.   Immunity from all accountability. Even if the Company’s dirty facility created a batch of contaminated vaccines that resulted in death or injury to thousands of people, the drug company will have immune from liability.

4.   Immunity from all law suits. A person who suffers any type of loss will be legally prohibited from suing the drug companies.

Through the PREPAct, drug companies have  immunity from almost everything, perhaps even murder. The bill’s language explicitly protects frivolous suits and sets a rigidly high standard for defining negligence. Even if a pharmaceutical company knowingly harms people, the company will be immune from legal prosecution unless the U.S. Attorney General initiates “enforcement action” against the drug company in the name of the claimant. This means the U.S. government would have to go to bat for the plaintiff against the drug company for the lawsuit to move forward.

Regardless of what you think of the efficacy of vaccines, how anyone can accept anything as mandatory means that they are willing to surrender their ability and freedom to choose for some purported good stated by the government.  I've written elsewhere on the efficacy of the measles vaccines.  Vaccinations do not provide lifetime immunity.  With regards to the measles virus, the only thing that provides lifetime immunity to that is a bout of the measles.  The measles vaccine does not provide you with lifetime immunity to the measles.  In fact, most of the people who acquired measles this past winter, like at Disneyland, had already been vaccinated.  Rely on your own immune system.  Trust it.  You'll be able to fight off most things.  The pharmaceutical industry tries to scare you into taking their drugs because they want to make money on your fear.  Be a smarter consumer, a smarter citizen.