Why I Frequently Allow Butter on a Dairy Free Diet

  • Author

Nutritionists work with the diets of patients quite extensively. It is, in fact, one of the most important changes we make in our patient's lives. Even though our culture might assume otherwise, simply swallowing a pill and making a symptom go away is not the answer to improving one's health. So our clinical nutrition department dedicates much time towards discovering the best diet for our patients because it is an integral part to optimizing health.

A Reader's Question:

"You mention that you typically recommend avoiding dairy products to your patients, but then say you allow them some organic butter.  Can you explain how a product derived from cow's milk is not a dairy product?” I can definitely see where the confusion is coming from so let me clarify:

What Portion of Dairy is the Problem?

The problem with dairy products (and most foods to which we have reactions) is the protein portion of them.  The protein is pro-inflammatory and much like the protein portion of the grains wheat, rye and barley, it seems that the human body doesn’t respond well to it. 

Many researchers put dairy products in a non-food category. They state that while we are designed to digest our own mother’s milk for the first few years of life, we were never designed to glean nutrition from the milk of another mammal such as the cow, goat or sheep. 

For that reason, plus a couple of decades of clinical nutrition experience supporting that theory, I recommend to my patients that they exclude dairy from their diet.

What's Different About Butter

How is butter different? Butter is about 80-82% fat (higher fat butters are available if you look for them), 17% water and only about 1% milk solids (protein).  For most patients I find that minimal amount of protein is insufficient to bother them. For others that small protein content is bothersome and creates reactions. 

As nutritionists we find that most of these patients may enjoy clarified butter or ghee where virtually all water and protein are removed with only the fat remaining. Ghee in particular goes through a heating process that purportedly renders it completely protein-free.

Why Organic?

Organic is an important component because the fat is where the hormones and toxins that the animal was exposed to will reside in a non-organic product.  

The organic version should be free of such contaminants since the animal was not given them as part of the organic promise. Do realize that the likelihood of finding organic butter being served outside your home is slim to none. So limit any butter consumption to that you eat at home. And why not simply cook with olive oil and coconut oil and be done with it?

 There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. In fact it's an excellent idea and what you should be doing the vast majority of the time. One last point about organic butter: it can not only be enjoyable to cook with but it does contain an interesting saturated fat that is also an omega-6 fat called CLA.

A Saturated Fat That's Good For You?


• In animal studies a relatively small amount of CLA was found to reduce tumors by over 50% in breast,    colorectal, skin, stomach and lung cancers.

• It was found to reduce high blood pressure, lower the risk for heart disease as well as reduce cholesterol and triglycerides.

• It improved osteoporosis and insulin resistance associated with diabetes and obesity.

• It is an anti-inflammatory and stimulates the immune system to be more effective.

• Lastly, human studies show a benefit in lowering body fat, especially in those who combined taking CLA with exercise.

So there you have it. I hope this clears up any confusion as regards our clinical nutrition

department's stand on dairy products. In the main it is best to avoid them, but for many some organic butter or ghee is just fine. Please send in your questions and let us know how we may be of assistance.

Is Your Health At Its Optimal?


To your health,

Dr. Vikki Petersen

IFM Certified Practitioner
Founder of HealthNOW Medical Center
Author of "The Gluten Effect"


Click here to have us contact you!

comments powered by Disqus
Chat with a Doctor


Captcha Image
Shopping cart is empty.

Like What You’re Reading?

