Grass-Fed Butter

Overview

Grass-fed butter provides butyrate, CLA (conjugated linoleic acid), vitamins A/D/K2, selenium, and C15:0 pentadecanoic acid, supporting brain and metabolic health. Grass-Fed Butter: Butyrate, Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA; such as rumenic acid), vitamins A/D/K2, selenium, C15:0 pentadecanoic acid. C15:0 (Parmesan and grassfed Butter). Instead of excluding them, dietary strategies should focus on unprocessed, nutrient-dense sources such as Parmesan cheese, grass-fed butter, and pasture-raised egg yolks.

Food Context

Synergies

• Part of nutrient-dense fat strategy

Sourcing

• Choose grass-fed/pasture-raised sources for optimal nutrient profile
• When consumed in moderation within an anti-inflammatory, micronutrient-rich diet, foods like grass-fed butter provide essential brain nutrients including choline, vitamin K2, butyrate, and fat-soluble vitamins A, D, and E

Preparation

• Use for finishing vegetables, grains, or cooking (with higher smoke point oil to avoid burning)
• Supports butyrate and K2 intake

Essential Amino Acid Profile

This food provides a complete essential amino acid profile typical of animal proteins.

Recipes

no recipes found

Nutrient Tables (per 100 g)

Core nutrients

Nutrient	Amount per 100 g	% RDA per 100 g
Energy	198 kcal	—
Protein	19.4 g	—
Total fat	12.7 g	—
Saturated fat	5.3 g	—
Carbohydrates	0 g	—
Fibre	0 g	—

Key micronutrients

Nutrient	Amount per 100 g	% RDA per 100 g
Iron	2 mg	11.1%
Zinc	4.6 mg	41.4%
Magnesium	19 mg	4.5%
Selenium	14.2 µg	25.8%
Calcium	12 mg	1.2%
Potassium	289 mg	8.5%
Choline	67.4 mg	12.3%
Folate	6 µg	1.5%
Vitamin B12	0 µg	0%
Vitamin B6	0.4 mg	20.9%

Bioactive compounds

Values below are often from specialist compositional databases or literature, not the standard USDA panel. Asterisks (*) refer to source notes at the bottom of this section.

Compound / class	Amount per 100 g	Notes
ALA	71 mg	—
EPA	1 mg	—

Note: Bioactive-compound values vary substantially by cultivar, species, cocoa or oil percentage, processing, and brand formulation. Show quantitative values only where a defensible source exists; otherwise prefer qualitative presence statements or ranges in source notes.

Reference intakes: US Dietary Reference Intakes for adults (19–50 years; using the higher of male/female values where they differ).

Data provenance (core / micronutrient panel): USDA FoodData Central, Beef, grass-fed, ground, raw, FDC ID 168608, API, per 100 g edible portion, last checked 2026-03-14

Substances

Substances in this food: editorial (Overview / literature) plus analytical (nutrition table).

14 substances in this food

Selenium

Antioxidant enzyme cofactor (GPx); supports redox balance

Vitamin A (Retinoids; β-Carotene precursor)

Neurodevelopment; immune regulation; antioxidant via carotenoids

Vitamin D

Neurotrophic and immune modulation; calcium homeostasis

Vitamin K2 (MK forms)

Calcium handling; potential roles in brain health; often co-occurs with fat-soluble vitamins

Iron

Oxygen transport; dopamine synthesis (tyrosine hydroxylase cofactor)

Zinc

Cofactor in neurotransmission and antioxidant enzymes; dopamine modulation

Magnesium

Enzymatic cofactor (>300 reactions); neurotransmitters; mitochondria; redox balance

Calcium

Bone health; neurotransmission; interacts with vitamin D and K2

Potassium

Electrolyte for nerve transmission, muscle function, and blood pressure regulation

Choline

Acetylcholine precursor; methyl donor; phospholipid synthesis for membranes

Vitamin B9 (Folate; 5-MTHF)

One-carbon metabolism; methylation; homocysteine recycling

Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine → PLP)

PLP cofactor for neurotransmitter synthesis; relies on brain PDXK activation

ALA (Alpha-Linolenic Acid)

Essential omega-3 precursor; limited conversion to DHA/EPA

EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid)

Potent anti-inflammatory; precursor to E-series resolvins; modulates dopamine and serotonin signalling

References

• Grass-Fed Butter: Butyrate, Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA; such as rumenic acid), vitamins A/D/K2, selenium, C15:0 pentadecanoic acid
• C15:0 (Parmesan and grassfed Butter)
• Instead of excluding them, dietary strategies should focus on unprocessed, nutrient-dense sources such as Parmesan cheese, grass-fed butter, and pasture-raised egg yolks
• When consumed in moderation within an anti-inflammatory, micronutrient-rich diet, foods like Parmesan cheese and grass-fed butter provide essential brain nutrients including choline, vitamin K2, butyrate, and fat-soluble vitamins A, D, and E
• Butyrate: Anti-inflammatory effects, potentially reducing neuroinflammation; supports mitochondrial function, enhancing brain energy metabolism; aids in reducing cholesterol and neuroinflammation