Tag Archives: butter oil

Foodie Friday: Seven Healthy Reasons to Add Ghee to Your Pantry

Posted on October 23, 2015 by Beeyoutiful Mary Leave a comment

The average American may have no idea how useful and beneficial (and healthful) Ghee can be! We’ve recently added Pure Indian Foods’ Organic, Grass-fed Ghee to our line because of its rich benefits and versatility as both a supplement and a food item.

We know you’ll love it as much as we do, once you know why Ghee is so amazing!

1) Ghee is a great source of nutrients. Ghee made from grass-fed beef is rich in vitamins A, D, and E, as well as K2 and fatty acids such as conjugated linoleic acid and butyric acid.

2) Ghee is very low in lactose. Ghee is a clarified form of butter from which the milk solids have been removed, leaving only the butter fat. Typically this allows those with milk allergies to consume Ghee without experiencing allergy symptoms. (With severe allergies to milk, please try Ghee only with a nutritionist or healthcare provider’s supervision, as ghee can still contain traces of lactose.)

3) Ghee is great for cooking. Because the milk solids have been removed, ghee has a higher smoke point than butter, making it a safe (and delicious) fat for sautéing or frying foods.

4) Ghee enhances nutritious foods. Many herbs and spices have qualities are that are potentiated when warmed in a fat. Sautéing spices and herbs in a bit of ghee before adding to your recipe can help release the medicinal properties and give you greater health benefits.

5) Ghee can increase butyric acid levels. Our own digestive tracts produce butyric acid; it’s used both for energy and for supporting the health of the intestinal walls. But with a leaky gut (or a gut that’s simply in poor health), we may not be able to produce the amount of butyric acid our bodies need. Using ghee not just as a cooking ingredient but taking it supplementally can increase the butyric acid levels in the body and thus increase gut health.

6) Ghee boosts the immune system. All the nutrients in ghee, especially Vitamin A, butyric acid and conjugated linoleic acid, are good for helping to aid and boost the immune system.

7) Ghee is delicious. It just plain tastes good! You can use Ghee in place of butter or other cooking oils in recipes. You can spread on toast and top with a favorite jelly or jam. Or you can eat it by the spoonful to get an extra dose of good fats!

Beeyoutiful’s Response to the Controversy: The Weston A. Price Foundation & Green Pasture Fermented Cod Liver Oil

Posted on August 26, 2015 by stevetallent 27 comments

So, maybe you’ve heard the big controversy that recently broke in the real food community about fermented cod liver oil.

If you’ve missed it, here’s a summary.

Green Pasture is a company in Nebraska that makes fermented cod liver oil (FCLO) and high vitamin butter oil (HVBO) products. This company has been HEAVILY promoted by the renowned Weston A. Price Foundation (WAPF), which claims that the Green Pasture FCLO is the best cod liver oil available and recommends it for everybody of all ages.

The Vice President of WAPF, Kaayla Daniel, PhD, has independently published what amounts to an exposé on the Green Pasture FCLO. She asserts that Green Pasture products are rancid rather than fermented, and that perhaps they aren’t even sourced from codfish.

Here are three blog posts that are excerpts from Daniel’s report. If you want the full report including original test results, you might be able to access it here, or you might have to do what I did and follow the link from one of the above articles and give name and email address to download it.

David Wetzel, the owner of Green Pasture, has responded to some of Daniel’s challenges in a blog post.

Since we carry Green Pasture FCLO, we have been asked by multiple customers about what’s going on, and to share our opinion.

After many hours researching this, I think there are several issues worth considering.

1) Does Green Pasture FCLO contain the levels of vitamins claimed in their literature?

Well, it seems like probably not. In his rebuttal blog post, Wetzel didn’t even argue that point. However, he said that the amount of vitamins is less important than the bio-activity of the vitamins. He says their bio-activity is very high.

Maybe he is right. It would be hard to know for certain, unless they are also having other CLOs tested at the same time, in the same manner, and releasing all of the test results to compare them side by side. Regardless, leading people to believe that there are certain levels and then under-delivering is at the very least a poor practice.

2) Is Green Pasture FCLO actually fermented, or is it rancid?

Oil cannot be fermented. So the oil itself is not actually fermented. This is not in contention. What is in contention is whether the cod livers are fermented, or whether they have gone rancid and putrid.

The argument is that carbohydrates are required for fermentation and there just isn’t enough in oil if you don’t add extra sugar. For years, people have assumed that Green Pasture was adding some kind of extra sugar. According to Wetzel, “A word on our process: our simple process uses salt, fish broth starter, and livers. We do not dilute our oil, add anything, or use molasses, other sugars, or algae. I know it sounds too simple but it is exactly as we describe. No different than fermented fish sauce or pickled fish products….”

“Fermenting” a fish would present the same problems as fermenting a fish liver, as there are few carbohydrates, and certainly not enough to allow it to ferment for months or even a full year. I didn’t know anything about the process of making fermented fish sauce, so I did a little research. And the research said exactly what Wetzel said, that it involves leaving the fish parts in a barrel of salty water out in the sun for up to year. So it is quite possible that the process he’s describing is viable to make a good product, I don’t really know. It might not be “fermentation” or more specifically “lacto-fermentation” as we commonly know it, but fermentation may be the closest descriptor we have. However, it was pointed out to me that polyunsaturated omega fatty acids go rancid quickly when exposed to oxygen and there are much higher levels in cod liver oil than in fish sauce so a greater susceptibility.

According to the Wikipedia entry on fermented fish sauce, “Another factor is the sauce should not have a particularly strong smell, and it should be transparent with a deep golden amber color.”

Another page advised, “Look for fish sauce with a clear, reddish brown color, like the color of good whisky or sherry, without any sediments. If the color is a dark or muddy brown, the sauce is likely to be either a lower grade, or one that is not properly or naturally fermented; it may also have been sitting on the shelf a bit too long. Good fish sauce also has a pleasant aroma of the sea, not an overwhelming smelly fishiness, and should not be overly salty.” Other sites agreed with these: clear reddish fluid was good, darker with any sediment was poor quality.

Anybody that has tried FCLO knows that it doesn’t just have a strong odor. It stinks. It is foul. And every one that I have tried was a very dark color. But does that mean it is rancid?

Some of the test results that Dr. Daniel published in her report have markers called free fatty acids that indicate rancidity. Some of the other markers of rancidity are “early markers” which dissipate as the product becomes progressively more rancid.

The Green Pasture FCLO products show either low or undetectable levels of these early markers in all of the test results I’ve seen. However, all of them, even the ones that Wetzel and WAPF say clearly indicate there are no signs of rancidity, contain these free fatty acids.

Wetzel says that free fatty acids are a natural process that occurs in the body, and so they are perfectly safe. As far as I can tell, he is correct in the first assertion, but there are several studies that link free fatty acids to insulin resistance and other complications. I’m of the opinion that fish livers, and specifically cod livers CAN be fermented in the same manner as fish sauce to make a good, safe product. It would seem that Green Pasture may have a problem in their process, either the fermenting of it, or the extracting or cleaning of the oil.

3) Is Green Pasture FCLO safe to use?

It is commonly believed that eating anything rancid is not good for you. It might not kill you, but there are things in rancid products that just aren’t beneficial to healthy living. It’s the same with rotten products. Some people claim there are health benefits to eating rotten things. I don’t know about that. I do know that rotten stuff is “blech” as my 2 and 3 year old sons would say.

Wetzel said they just passed a 4-year food safety test. I don’t know what that means and he didn’t elaborate. If it means that it is tested for botulism or a similar food poisoning bacteria like they would on canned foods, well of course it wouldn’t have that (for the same reason that oil cannot ferment: no carbs).

What’s more is that trans fats were found in the FCLO in a not insignificant amount of 3.22% in one of the lab findings. Trans fats are not “generally recognized as safe” by the FDA, and manufacturers have until 2018 to get them out of foods (or get an exception). Trans fats are believed to be one of the biggest contributors to heart disease.

Dr. Ron, of Dr. Ron’s Ultra Pure, has some serious concerns about fermented cod liver oil, but his problem might have resulted from any kind of cod liver oil, not specifically the fermented kind.

4) Is Green Pastures FCLO diluted with a vegetable oil?

At least one of the test results Dr. Daniel reported is difficult if not impossible to explain if the product is NOT diluted. Interestingly, this is something that Wetzel didn’t address in his rebuttal. Perhaps he doesn’t have a good answer (either he didn’t/doesn’t know what is happening up the supply line, or doesn’t have a favorable way of presenting it and so he’s going to leave it alone), or perhaps he doesn’t consider this to be much of a problem.

For me, this is a HUGE issue. If you’re buying a premium product, you expect it to BE a premium product, and not diluted with something cheap. The fact that the report indicates it was a heat-damaged vegetable oil, and according to Wetzel there is no heat used in their process, means an added oil was heated before it got into his product, or that the product is getting too hot during the process in spite of their no heat policy.

5) Is Green Pasture FCLO actually from cod livers?

This is another big concern of ours, as we are committed to remaining a full disclosure company. We want to know every ingredient in every product we sell.

Apparently the fish being used is Alaska Pollock, which has recently (Jan. 2014) been reclassified as being part of the same genus as cod, meaning, according to scientists, that it is a close relative. It is a very cheap fish (about 1/3 the cost of Atlantic Cod, according to one person) and very commonly used for fish sticks and the like.

But to my mind, if somebody thinks they are buying premium Norwegian Cod (which Green Pasture never states, but has definitely led people to believe with their rhetoric and even certain product names), and instead you’re giving them cheap “in the same family as cod” while continuing to charge them a premium price, that’s a problem. That’s a BIG problem.

Again, this is another area that Wetzel didn’t address at all in his rebuttal. I can’t wait to hear what he has to say.

Further research into this shows that while the changing of the scientific name may render this fish “a cod”, NOAA has determined that it still should be labeled Alaska Pollock and that it’s incorrect to label it cod. As of March 2015, requests to the FDA to be able to label it cod were still under review. A look at the FDA’s seafood list shows the only acceptable market names for this fish are “Pollock or Alaska Pollock”.

We are a full disclosure company and see this sort of thing as unethical, and because of FDA labeling laws, it might actually be illegal. A couple of years ago, Green Pasture was having really bad sourcing problems. They just couldn’t keep up with demand. They were out of stock a lot and when they did have stock, we were severely limited on how many FCLO products we could buy. I can’t help but wonder if at that time, a man had to make a difficult decision to try to keep his business going, and that’s how we arrived at this point.

6) What about the High Vitamin Butter Oil?

This shows signs of rancidity as well. Wetzel has reported at other times that the butter oil would have a strong fermented flavor. Since HVBO doesn’t even CLAIM to be a fermented product, one would wonder why that would be the case, unless it wasn’t being handled properly.

The other issue addressed by Daniel is one of reported sourcing. Apparently Green Pasture changed their sourcing from “northern great plains” and changed most of their product descriptions to remove that reference, but as of 10 days ago, at least one of their descriptions still said this. That has since been cleaned up, but they didn’t notify any of their resellers, and so those sites still carry the “great plains” sourcing description.

The new source is reportedly Argentinian, and appears to be quite good, containing no antibiotics, with high vitamin content, and no GMOs. And I can give somebody a pass for missing a detail on a product description and even failing to inform resellers about changes. We certainly don’t notify resellers every time we change a product description, and we regularly find out of date information on product descriptions. Still, it seems to fit into a pattern or projecting an image that isn’t true and being mum about actual sourcing.

7) Where is the WAPF in all of this?

There is kind of an incestuous relationship between Green Pasture and Weston A Price Foundation. Green Pasture ALWAYS gets premium billing and lots and LOTS of exposure from WAPF, over and above other companies that would seem to be on a par with Green Pasture in mission and quality. This is all free advertising for Green Pasture that’s worth literally hundreds of thousands of dollars, perhaps even millions over the 9 years this product has been held up by WAPF as the gold standard.

Green Pasture then pays for advertising in WAPF journals, pays for the super premium sponsorship at the WAPF conferences, and sponsors other giveaways and promotional efforts. So you wouldn’t expect WAPF to just throw Green Pasture under the bus, due to the relationship, but also due to very practical matters of finance. However, by WAPF’s statement, they do not seem to be looking for the truth in this matter, but looking for a way to quickly make this all go away.

The WAPF has issued a statement in support of Green Pasture and is planning to issue another much fuller statement after reviewing Dr. Daniel’s report further. I suspect that it too will be in support of Green Pasture.

WAPF released test results in February that seem to indicate no rancidity. The date on the test is in December though. The timing of the release of the test results is curious, as is their use of a UK lab, but both could have reasonable explanations. However, it was only one test from one lab, testing only for rancidity, and I have reason to believe it was in conjunction with Green Pasture, and not just a random bottle off of a shelf.

But the report does show free fatty acids, which Wetzel addresses in his rebuttal. “In industry, some companies use the level of free fatty acids for evaluation of the sales value. The level of free fatty acids can be used as an index for oxidation level in the oil. Oxidation processes can release the free fatty acid from the triglyceride which can happens during prolonged heating at high temperature. The presence of free fatty acids, in turn, can speed up oxidative reactions. There are no official standards for free fatty acids, and again, free fatty acid levels indicate nothing about the health safety by the oil industry. The test for free fatty acids is a titration where any chemical that can neutralize a base is listed as a free fatty acid.”

If that went over your head, the quick translation is, “free fatty acids don’t necessarily mean dangerous product”. My interpretation is, “Yes, we’ve got free fatty acids in our products, yes, they could be markers of oxidation, but our products are still safe.”

A quick search of “oil oxidation” brought back this description: “Oil oxidation is an undesirable series of chemical reactions involving oxygen that degrades the quality of an oil. Oxidation eventually produces rancidity in oil, with accompanying off flavours and smells.” Anybody that has tried Green Pasture fermented cod liver oil can testify to “off flavours and smells”.

Our Summary of it All

This is a great big mess. I feel like WAPF and Green Pasture did not listen to valid concerns, for whatever reasons, and that led to Daniel “going undercover” to do this investigation.

Green Pasture has a monetary interest in discrediting this report. WAPF has hitched their wagon to Green Pasture and would lose face and a lot of sponsorship dollars if Green Pasture suffers from a loss of consumer confidence. And Daniel is using this to build her email list, which in the world of information marketing means generating more leads, and getting more business. Every player seems to have reputation and money at stake, and it is hard to feel like you are getting truly unbiased information from the players when that is that case.

I will say that despite what some might think at this point, Wetzel seems not entirely without integrity. There are a lot of areas where it seems he has done things that we feel might be unethical, but as far as I can tell, Green Pasture hasn’t actually said anything that is untrue, or at least I can say that it seems they believe that what they say is true. It seems they may have left out information, been vague about some things, and allowed misinformation that was favorable to continue to be rehearsed by others without correcting them when they could have, but they haven’t knowingly lied that I can tell. And I don’t think there is necessarily malice involved. I think Wetzel and Green Pasture believe that they are providing a fantastic product, and that increasing the spread of the product is in everyone’s best interest.

However, I also know from personal experience that when there is a lot of money on the line, it is easy to talk yourself into believing all sorts of things, and it can be a slippery slope. Being out of stock on a single signature product (or having consumers lose faith in the product) can seriously hurt a business, and when that product makes up a HUGE percentage of your business, it can be crippling. Believe me, it is hard to see people out there cutting corners and not be tempted to dip your own toe in.

Where does Beeyoutiful stand?

For years, we routinely recommended FCLO for people who were trying to heal from major illnesses or conditions. That has changed as we’ve had concerns ourselves about FCLO for a couple of years.

We did not have any hard data to base this on, except that things seemed to be a little “off” here and there with the information coming out of Green Pasture, and their relationship with WAPF just didn’t seem normal. Response to criticism, or even questions, was not handled well by either organization and did not result in good information being shared and a good dialogue taking place. Basically, the response felt like “This is the gospel and how dare you question it!”

Due to our concerns over the years, we have tried adding on a number of different cod liver oil products, and were grateful to be able to add Rosita Extra Virgin Cod Liver Oil as a really great alternative to Green Pasture products. It is super high quality, and their ratfish oil is even more nutrient dense. The prices coincide with the quality. We also added an excellent extra virgin butter oil from Organic 3 that is very fresh tasting.

We’ve been recommending Rosita oils instead of the FCLO products for some time now. We continued carrying the Green Pasture FCLO products, as we have many customers that want them and because we still believe there is some value in them, just as we believe there is some value in just about any CLO you can find regardless of how it was processed (assuming it really is cod liver oil!).

But we’re not happy with the responses we’re hearing. Wetzel says he has lawyers going over Dr. Daniel’s report. Not scientists, chemists, biologists, or other experts in processing or whatever, but lawyers. He hasn’t offered to launch his own investigation into his supply chain or review his processes. He isn’t forthcoming with sourcing information that might quickly dispel some of these claims. That doesn’t seem like an attempt to get at the truth.

Unfortunately, “It’s safe, we promise, take our word for it and keep buying!” just isn’t going to cut it for us at this point.

I would have expected an organization like WAPF to respond with something like, “Wow, these are serious claims that we need to investigate.” But, that hasn’t been the case. As far as I can tell, they, like Wetzel, are not planning to investigate the product, or process, or sourcing, but instead to investigate the claims and the test results. They seem to be circling the wagons in full support of Green Pasture.

At this point it kinda has the look and feel that what we will get from them in the coming days is an attempt to discredit the report, or the author, to explain away findings, and to sweep the whole affair under the rug. They have said they will release another statement soon, and we’re waiting to see what they say.

These are not the responses that we’ve wanted to see. We are a full-disclosure company, and trusted Green Pasture because of WAPF’s endorsement. Now it seems that our faith may have been misplaced.

We don’t want to be associated with this. We will not be recommending Green Pasture Fermented Cod Liver Oil products. We will continue selling the product while awaiting the promised further responses from both Wetzel and WAPF, but won’t reorder for the time being.

Depending on how things shake out over the next couple of weeks, we may indeed stop carrying the product altogether. We’ll see how WAPF and Green Pasture address our concerns in their point by point response to this report.

We’re interested in your opinions too. Please leave us a comment and let us know what you think, and feel free to ask us any questions that might be on your mind, and READ OUR SECOND UPDATE HERE.

Preparing For Pregnancy, Part 2: Choosing Supplements and Avoiding Morning Sickness

Posted on March 10, 2015 by Beeyoutiful Mary Leave a comment

Preparing for Pregnancy: Choosing Supplements and Avoiding Morning Sickness

Thanks for joining us for Pregnancy Week! Start here with Part 1. Some of this material originally appeared in a slightly different form in our Fall 2010 catalog.

Our Food Doesn’t Always Cut It

Ideally, you would get all your nutrients from food, but that is just not possible these days with our nutritionally-depleted soils and food supplies, busy lifestyles, and other deficiencies. That’s why the wonderful resources of Beeyoutiful are invaluable if you’re preparing for one of life’s greatest joys and hardest tasks.

Both parents should take a multivitamin that’s derived from whole sources, and is easily absorbed to work within the body to help build and restore nutrient reserves. SuperMom and SuperDad are excellent multivitamins which also feature “bonus” nutrient-packed ingredients such as spirulina and chlorella. (Bear in mind that dad contributes on the front end to the baby’s health, so he needs to take his vitamins to build his own immune system well in advance of conception.)

In addition to the multivitamin, Folate is a must. A sufficient level in both parents decreases the rate of several genetic problems, including spina bifida and Down Syndrome. SuperMom and SuperDad each offer 400 mcg of Folic Acid, but most midwives and health practitioners advise 800 mcg per day for women anticipating pregnancy so you’ll need to boost that nutrient separately.

Many times during pregnancy, due to insufficient diet, increased demand, and absorption issues, iron levels can drop into a range that is dangerous for both mom and baby. If you reach delivery without enough iron, it can lead to low blood levels and the need for additional interventions as well as increased recovery times.

Floradix® Iron + herbs is a safe, low dose, organic liquid iron supplement. It contains highly soluble iron gluconate as well as herbal extracts, whole food concentrates and co-factors Vitamins B and C. The addition of Vitamin B and C aids your body’s ability to absorb the iron and better utilize it once absorbed. Best of all, it is easy on the stomach and non-constipating, making it helpful for pregnant and lactating women.

Cod Liver Oil is one of my newer personal favorites that I wish I’d taken it prior to all my pregnancies. Cod Liver Oil provides the EPA and DHA required for proper brain development. I suggest using Rosita Extra Virgin Cod Liver Oil along with Butter Oil because it also provides Omega 3 fatty acids and good amounts of Vitamins A, D, and K. These three crucial vitamins work together to help build strong bones, maintain the cardiovascular system, keep skin clear and healthy, balance the clotting factors in your blood, reduce the chance of diabetes, strengthen the immune system, and myriad other great benefits. Since these are fat soluble vitamins, it is also vital to take them with a meal containing a moderate amount of healthy fats for proper absorption.

Heading Off Morning Sickness

One of the most-dreaded parts of pregnancy is morning sickness and it often lingers as a “what if” when we are considering having a little one. While the babies are worth every second of agony, there are definitely things we can do that might help protect us or at least lessen the intensity. Take comfort: I had severe morning sickness with my first three pregnancies, to the point of needing to be medicated throughout, but by my fourth and fifth pregnancies I was managing well with several natural remedies instead.

Maximizing your nutrient-dense foods and thus nourishing your system is the foundation, but often our diets need a special boost. Two nutrients in particular seem to impact morning sickness the most.

Magnesium plays crucial roles in managing cortisol and blood sugar and even impacting hormones. When we are deficient in magnesium, our body is not able to properly maintain these other areas, leading to what we call morning sickness. Usually having optimal magnesium levels prior to pregnancy will help this. (For more information on magnesium deficiency, click here.)

We need to add B Vitamins, particularly B12 and B6, because they aid our body’s ability to absorb magnesium. Having daily intake of food rich in Vitamin B is a great place to start, but if your body has difficulty converting it to a usable form, you may also want to consider using a methylated form of both folate and B12 instead.

Putting it All to Use

To make sure your body can actually use the foods and supplements you’re giving it, you’ll need to do all you can to keep your digestive system working its best. Even if you are blessed with an iron-clad stomach, you’re likely to have taken antibiotics sometime in your life, or have been exposed to toxins that could wreak havoc on digestive flora. Here are two key ways to help build a strong digestive tract.

Probiotics, taken daily, rebuild good intestinal flora which will pass to the baby growing inside of you. It also protects against harmful bacteria. And here’s a big plus I wish I had known during my first stomach-churning pregnancy: daily use of probiotics such as Tummy Tuneup can help decrease nausea while pregnant.

Digestive enzymes are crucial because enzymes are the tools your body uses to extract nutrients from food. Most people are deficient in enzymes and unable to use well what their food offers. Without sufficient enzymes, many people experience fatigue, constipation, diarrhea, food cravings, and various stomach complaints. Eliminating these problems before pregnancy will help you feel better during pregnancy. And it will help maximize the nutrient building blocks available to help grow your child’s body.

Red Raspberry Leaf is an invaluable herb for women of all ages, but specifically for pre-pregnancy. The leaves are known to increase fertility in both men and women, prevent miscarriage and hemorrhage, and decrease morning sickness. Many midwives agree that Red Raspberry Leaves are safe to take throughout your pregnancy, but some advise against use during the first trimester, so (as always!) check with your preferred health care provider before continuing any supplement during your pregnancy.

A Matter of Timing

The plans I’ve shared here should be started six months to a year prior to pregnancy, if at all possible. Certainly, if you are experiencing specific health concerns such as thyroid dysfunction, extreme fatigue, chronic infections or illness, etc., it would be best to get control of your health immediately, whether or not pregnancy seems to be in your future. Whether through diet modification, adding supplements, or working with a naturopath, the more you work to build your health now, the less effort will be required to restore it in the future, and you’ll reduce the chances of passing on chronic problems to your children.

Whether your first or your tenth, pregnancy is one of the most exciting times in life! Every baby brings a wealth of expectations, joys, and new experiences. As you contemplate bringing a life into this world, I hope you can learn a little from my early bad choices and the subsequent better ones. The most rewarding result of my better choices has been the noticeably better health enjoyed by my third child, who is by far healthier than my older two.

Join us tomorrow for Part 3 when we’ll talk about exercise and rest during pregnancy.

Mary Ewing has been with Beeyoutiful for six years (through three pregnancies!). She enjoys exploring life with her husband and five children as they cook, garden, play and dream of homesteading. Her interests include traditional cooking, learning about herbs and essential oils, and traditional art forms such as sewing, crocheting, knitting and smocking.

8 Lifestyle Choices to Support Heart Health

Posted on February 19, 2015 by Beeyoutiful Mary One comment

The best thing you can do for your heart is feed your body nutrient-dense foods, and that includes healthy fats, organic and pastured meats, organically-raised produce and properly prepared grains. When there is an adequate range and quality of nutrients being taken in, your heart can maintain good health.

We’ve found Nourishing Traditions to be a fabulous resource as we have made choices with our own families of what foods to use on our tables and how to prepare them. Diet & Heart Disease: It’s NOT What You Think is also packed with specific information about supporting heart health.

Deficiencies in key nutrients can cause significant stress to your heart and its health.

Vitamin C. According to Fallon and Enig in Diet & Heart Disease (p4), “Vitamin C deficiency makes for weaker arterial walls, subject to more inflammation and tearing.” Correcting the deficit leads to strong and healthy vessels and heart muscle. Some of the best sources of Vitamin C are raw milk, fresh fruits and vegetables, and herbs.
Minerals. Minerals are found in organic butter, organic animal organs, dark leafy vegetables, raw nuts, and sea products, and if your diet is lacking in these, you may also be lacking in minerals. “Heart disease has been correlated with mineral deficiencies. Coronary heart disease rates are lower in regions where drinking water is naturally rich in trace minerals, particularly magnesium, which acts as a natural anti-coagulant and aids potassium absorption, thereby preventing heartbeat irregularities.” (Diet & Heart Disease, p61-62) When supplementing, make sure to consider the fact that your heart needs a variety of minerals such as magnesium, potassium, calcium, chromium, selenium, iodine, and other trace minerals.
Folate, B6, and B12. These nutrients are primarily found in animal products, but can also be found in dark, leafy vegetables. Sufficient intake of this trio of B Vitamins decreases the likelihood of atherosclerosis, and “these three nutrients also lower levels of homocysteine, an amino acid that can trigger heart disease.” (Diet & Heart Disease, p62)
Antioxidants. Free radicals, such as pollution, toxins, unnatural chemicals, tobacco smoke, food additives, and even the byproducts of our own metabolized nutrients can attack and damage the body’s tissues (from DNA to arterial walls) if there are not adequate amounts of antioxidant nutrients in the diet. Increased free radicals without sufficient antioxidants increase stress and damage to the heart and its vessels. Examples of antioxidants that neutralize free radicals include Vitamins A, C, and E, Selenium, CoQ10, Zinc, and Glutathione. Sources of antioxidants are dark green leafy vegetables, organic pastured meats, grassfed butter, all orange and yellow fruits and vegetables, and even some spices such as turmeric. In addition, supporting the liver and its detoxification of free radicals as part of the metabolism process is extremely beneficial.
Powerhouses of A, D, and K. Dr. Weston Price was one of the first to notice the link between fat-soluble vitamins and heart health. He observed that during winter months when Vitamin D and A were not as naturally plentiful in the diet and lifestyle, the incident of heart attacks went up. “Vitamin A is required for numerous bodily functions, including protein and mineral utilization and the uptake of iodine by the thyroid gland. Since poor thyroid function is a cause of heart disease, a deficiency could be an indirect cause of heart disease. Since Vitamin D is needed for calcium utilization, a deficiency may cause increased calcification of the arteries, leading to accelerated atherosclerosis.” (Diet & Disease, p64-65) In addition to A and D, Vitamin K2 is very important. According to the Rotterdam Study in 2004, K2 is the only known nutrient that not only prevents but reverses atherosclerosis (for more information on K2, please see our post here). Sources of A and D are salmon, fish roe, grassfed butter and cod liver oil.

8 Lifestyle Choices to Support Heart Health

Eliminate Processed Foods. Increase nutrient-dense foods in their whole forms.
Avoid refined sugars. Use whole sweeteners such as maple syrup, honey, stevia or rapadura.
Avoid all trans fats. Exclude vegetable oils, shortening, and margarine. Increase saturated fats such as grassfed butter, unrefined animal fats, and coconut oil.
Throw out the pasteurized and homogenized milk. Replace with fresh raw dairy products (if you tolerate dairy well).
Just say no to low-cholesterol and low-fat foods. These foods are often filled with chemical additives, artificial flavorings, and sugars. Pick healthy whole foods to nourish and provide the needed nutrients.
De-stress your life. Stress increases the presence of free radicals in the body. Increase relaxing activities such as short breaks where you focus on a pleasant hobby.
Functional exercise. Choose a physical activity that allows for an increase of heart rate without putting undue stress on the body.
Dry brushing. Encourage good circulation and detoxification by using a stiff brush to stimulate the skin.

With these nutrients and lifestyle choices, you’ll be giving your body a toolbox full of heart-healthy options.

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Three Crucial Companions for Heart Health

Posted on February 18, 2015 by Beeyoutiful Mary One comment

3 Crucial Companions for Heart Health from Beeyoutiful.com

My husband’s family history of heart disease used to scare me. Honestly, with my background as a nurse, I felt that aside from some basic dietary precautions there was very little we could do to ensure he did not journey down the same path that his grandparents were walking. I frankly worried that I would eventually be the one in the recliner by the hospital bed, hoping to hear that he didn’t need bypass surgery.

Thankfully, the more I studied and learned, the more delighted I was to realize that we could walk a different path and that heart disease might not be our story’s end.

In the past few decades, fat-soluble vitamins have increasingly taken their place and been recognized as major actors in heart health. Traditional lifestyles and diets were examined and concluded to be rich in fat-soluble vitamins from nutrient-dense whole foods, whereas conventional modern diets tend to be poor in fat-soluble vitamins and heavy in processed foods. Incidentally, cultures that have abandoned their traditional diets are documented to have a much higher rate of heart disease than their ancestors.

When Beeyoutiful began a few years ago to offer products like Cod Liver Oil, Butter Oil, and Katalyst, I thought it was a great thing to make Vitamin K available, since it does so much with the blood and its ability to clot. But there’s so much more to that vitamin that I had yet to discover!

Vitamin K: Just For Clotting?

I really did not understand Vitamin K at all, specifically K2 (the form present in Katalyst and Butter Oil). The modern American diet is very low in K2 because we typically consume very little in the way of grassfed dairy (made from milk from cows that graze on pasture rather than eating grain) or eggs from truly free-range chickens, two primary sources of K2.

What I have learned about Vitamin K2 recently has caused me to prioritize these traditional foods in my family’s diet, and to decide to never leave off supplementing fat-soluble vitamins when I cannot get them from food sources.

There is a gentle dance in our bodies that involves many nutrients. Most need another nutrient to help them do their jobs properly. The complexity of these interactions is fascinating, and it explains how easily we can get out of balance when an important companion nutrient is deficient.

When Calcium Acts Alone

We are all well aware of the vital role that calcium plays in our bodies. It’s known for nourishing our bones and teeth, supporting heart health, helping nerves communicate, causing muscles to contract, and even supporting healthy blood clotting factors. In order for calcium to move around the body, it depends on other nutrients, and without them it simply takes the path of least resistance.

The ugly fact about calcium without its companion nutrients is that the path of least resistance leads straight to the soft tissues such as arteries and muscles. Those aren’t exactly the places where we’d like for our minerals to lodge, and these calcium deposits can cause plaque buildup in the blood vessels and pain in the joints and muscles.

The Vital Companions: Vitamins D and K

One of calcium’s companions is Vitamin D3, helping to increase absorption of calcium through the intestines, directly helping bone health. But unfortunately Vitamin D can only get calcium as far as the blood stream; it cannot get it into the bones. Actually, if you stopped the process here, it’s possible that taking Vitamin D alone could lead to even more calcium buildup in the blood vessels.

While D cannot move the calcium into the bones and out of the blood vessels, its other companion can! Vitamin K2 is a little-known supplement that functions as a cofactor that’s necessary to activate the two proteins that are responsible for moving calcium around the body. Without these two proteins (known as Osteocalcin and MGP), calcium simply remains in the blood vessels, creating buildup and contributing to a lack of calcium in the bones.

By simply adding K2 to your diet, you are benefitting both your heart and circulatory system, and your skeletal system. All three of these nutrients– calcium, D3 and K2– play vital roles in blood clotting as well, so you’re not only helping to ensure that blood vessels stay open and free, you are also helping to ensure the balance of clotting stays correct.

A Little Note About Vitamin A

While Vitamin A does not play a direct role in this cascade, what we do know is that A, D and K work synergistically together to regulate each other and protect the body. We highly suggest when supplementing with fat-soluble vitamins that you take Cod Liver Oil along with a Butter Oil to get a balance of all three.

Getting Adequate A, D, & K

The most superior way to take in fat-soluble vitamins is through grassfed butters, whole grassfed and raw dairy, cod liver oil, and fish. When these are not optimal in the diet, we highly recommend Cod Liver Oil and Butter Oil as a secondary option, or the pairing of Dynamic Duo and Katalyst as a budget-friendly backup plan.

It amazes me that the body is built to work with such intricate balance that when fed the correct nutrients it actually has the power to strengthen itself against future disease. Don’t shy away from the butter and enjoy those delicious farm-fresh eggs! Have another helping and call it a tasty contribution to your heart health.

For more reading on this topic, I highly recommend the following resources:

The Skinny on Fats
On the Trail of the Elusive X-Factor: A Sixty-Two-Year-Old Mystery Finally Solved
Diet & Heart Disease: It’s NOT What You Might Think by Stephen Byrnes, PhD, RNCP
Vitamin K2 and the Calcium Paradox: How a Little Known Vitamin Could Save Your Life by Kate Rheaume-Bleu

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Got Fat (-Soluble Vitamins)?

Posted on December 22, 2013 by Beeyoutiful Toni One comment

This post originally appeared in a slightly different form in our Fall 2013 catalog.

Are you struggling with prematurely-aging skin, poor vision in dim light, or decreased immunity?

What about muscle aches, joint pain, lowered resistance to infection, depression, difficulty managing your weight, or susceptibility to respiratory conditions such as asthma?

Do you bruise easily, have poor gut health, or suffer from any of a number of blood disorders?

While that might sound like an advertisement for the side-effects of a prescription drug, you can tell it’s not, because there is no mention of “and in rare cases, death.” For many of us, these are symptoms of an easily reversible problem: a deficiency of fat-soluble vitamins.

One of the most widely accepted dietary travesties in our civilization is the “low-fat diet”. Fats in all shapes and sizes, good fats and bad fats, have been vilified for causing obesity. Meanwhile, the real problem grows as junk food, sugars, and simple carbs are consumed in ever greater quantities. Not coincidentally, obesity rates are skyrocketing. Plus, all of the nutrients that are found in good fats are missed including vitamins A, D, and K.

FAT-SOLUBLE and WATER-SOLUBLE

Vitamins are either fat-soluble or water-soluble. Most of us are more familiar with water-soluble vitamins, like vitamin C and the B vitamins. Water-soluble vitamins are found mostly in foods from plants, they dissolve easily in water, and are not stored in the body in any great quantity. We need to ingest these vitamins daily because the body cannot manufacture them and when the body burns what it needs, the excess is expelled through the urine. Most of us are also familiar with pro vitamin A, otherwise known as Beta Carotene, another water soluble nutrient. Some people think that taking Beta Carotene is the same as supplementing or eating Vitamin A. It is not. Beta Carotene must be converted in the presence of fats in order to become Vitamin A. This conversion is inefficient at best and in some individuals it just doesn’t happen at all.

But the fat-soluble vitamins are either made by the body or come from animal products (traditionally-raised, that is!). The body stores these nutrients in the fatty tissues for later use. Because the excess of these vitamins is stored, there is a possibility of toxicity from overdose which has led to a lot of misinformed fear-mongering. That is why most of us have never heard of the importance of these vitamins, why there is little or none of them in multivitamins (in their most bio-available, fat-soluble form), and why many people are deficient. Prepare to be informed!

VITAMIN A

Vitamin A plays two roles in the health of cells: it protects existing cells from damage as an antioxidant, and lends crucial assistance to the growth of new cells. This can be especially evident in the skin, bringing the youthful, resilient qualities we so desire. It also boosts the immune system, guarding against infection and disease.

Vitamin A, and the other fat-soluble vitamins, enhance the mineral absorption of the digestive system. It makes the minerals in your food more bio-available to the body, unlocking them for efficient use. On a plant-based diet without sufficient fats, the body may be literally starving for minerals despite the high dietary levels, simply because they are not partnered with the appropriate nutrients to assist in processing.

VITAMIN D

Calcium deficiency, responsible for porous and weakened bones, can often be blamed on insufficient vitamin D3. Vitamin D3 increases the absorption of calcium and works in concert with vitamin A to process minerals into useful forms that contribute to healthy bones and teeth. D3 is also incredibly important for the immune system and is especially good for combatting viruses!

VITAMIN K2

After vitamins A and D have overseen the process of protein production, a near-magical substance activates the proteins, turning them on for use in the body. The renowned Dr. Weston A. Price noticed its powers in his studies, but its actual identity remained a mystery and he referred to it as “Activator X.” It was later identified as vitamin K2.

Vitamin K2 is probably best known for its essential role in blood clotting. The liver needs it in order to produce prothrombin, a substance that helps the coagulation of blood. Without K2, even a small cut could result in major blood loss.

While vitamin D helps increase calcium absorbtion, vitamin K2 tells it where to go. We don’t want calcium to contribute to plaque deposits in our arteries or any other soft tissue, and K2 helps direct it to bones and teeth where it’s really needed.

Synergy!

The relationship between A, D, and K2 is important. When fat-soluble vitamins are taken together rather than as isolated supplements, they form a synergy, a cooperation that works better than when the parts are alone. For example, large doses of vitamin D or vitamin A taken alone without its partners may have little benefit and could even prove toxic. However, massive doses of A, D and K2 have been given to animals without toxicity, when they were in proper proportions. It appears that a unique buffering and protection happens to prevent toxicity when all three are consumed together. This is why it’s always best to get vitamins from a nourishing diet built around nutrient-dense foods and high-quality, food-based supplements.

How do I get enough?

Back in the 1930’s, Dr. Weston A. Price discovered that cultures with traditional lifestyles took in ten times more of the vitamins A and D than Americans did. Note that back then, the average American diet was still fairly nutritious, with a lot of whole, locally-grown, home-prepared foods. In the years since Dr. Price’s research, there was an explosion of factory farming and processed convenience foods, so now, eighty years later, it isn’t much of a stretch to presume our deficiency is even worse. How can we reverse this trend?

Vitamins A, D3, and K2 are found only in animal products (and in the case of D, through sunlight synthesis); a plant-based diet or a processed-food diet won’t have enough of these crucial nutrients. Seafood, especially fish eggs, fish livers, fish oil, and certain fish and mammals, provide high amounts of this trio. Wild-caught seafood that is fresh, frozen, or dried are higher-quality sources of fat-soluble vitamins than canned or farm-raised seafood.

Regular sunshine, about twenty minutes daily, can help raise your body’s vitamin D reserves. It is best if the sun is directly overhead, especially midday in the summer; the skin is not as efficient at D-production with the slanted rays of morning or evening sunshine. Darker skin is slower at absorbing sunlight and often requires longer exposure to the sun to raise vitamin D levels. Because many of are unable or unwilling to get out enough in the heat of the day, sunshine alone is often inadequate and most of the world (unless you live along the equator!) will need to include a dietary source of vitamin D3. If we can’t get enough sunlight ourselves, we can get it from grass-fed animals raised in sunlight.

You can find high concentrations of the fat-soluble vitamins in the meat and organs of traditionally-raised animals as well as in butter, cream, egg yolks, and animal fats such as lard and duck fat. Industrially-raised animals that are not pastured have only negligible levels of vitamins A and K2, and without sunlight, D as well. To optimize your grocery investments, target the highest quality possible for eggs and butter. Look for foods from pastured animals instead of grain-fed. Nutrient-dense sources pack a mighty punch in a small package. Don’t waste valuable space filling your grocery basket with high-calorie but low-nutrient foods!

Add cream or butter to soups to provide more nutrients and to enhance the absorption of the nutrients present in the vegetables. Top cooked vegetables with high-quality butter or coconut oil. Eat salads with rich homemade dressings made from fresh, healthy fats such as olive oil.

Cod liver oil and butter oil are some of the best sources of fat-soluble vitamins. Paired together they offer an incredible health boost. We believe this to be the highest quality whole food supplement available for this vital trilogy of fat soluble nutrients. For a more affordable option, Beeyoutiful’s Dynamic Duo provides vitamins A and D3 in good proportions to each other and is sourced from fish oils. D3 is available in a liquid and gel-cap form as well.

A diet rich in leafy greens will provide adequate amounts vitamin K1, but vitamin K2 is still needed. K2 is found in grass-fed animal products, especially cheese, meat, liver, and egg yolks. Supplementing your diet with one capsule of Beeyoutiful’s Katalyst every day could help increase vitamin K2 reserves and prevent a deficiency of this crucial nutrient.

KatalystStephWebsite For supplementation we recommend a ratio of 4-10:1 A to D3, and 10:1 D3 to K2. As always, for full utilization of nutrients extracted from their food form, take with a meal, as the body is designed to process nutrients from a food source rather than from an isolated supplement taken on an empty stomach. You’ll get more from both your supplements and your food.

Fat-soluble vitamins are crucial for health and a long life and are only available to the body through traditionally-raised animal products or careful supplementation. Don’t allow your health to stay permanently compromised due to a lack of these crucial, health supporting vitamins. Buy high quality whole food sources as life logistics and personal budgets allow. If life constraints are such that food sources are not an option the supplemental form of these nutrients will do exactly what they are designed to do, bridge the gap.

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Activating Activator X in Your Diet – Spring 2010 Catalog

Posted on June 10, 2010 by stevetallent

Activating Activator X in Your Diet

By Christy Stouffer

Desperate situations can inspire us to think outside the box. Not long ago, a family member reacted adversely to a bout with chemotherapy, so we looked for help beyond conventional medicine.

Deteriorating quickly, Joan* was hospitalized. To make matters worse, she broke her hip and struggled to recover. Because she had no appetite, Joan quickly lost weight and had little energy or stamina.

A friend recommended that we look into giving Joan something called high vitamin butter oil. We scrambled to learn about it and at every turn were amazed at what we read!

X-actly What the Doctor Ordered

This golden butter was “discovered” more than 50 years ago by Weston A. Price. Dr. Price studied people groups from around the globe and learned that those who were healthy and thriving had something in common: they consumed high levels of vitamins A and D, and these vitamins were activated by vitamin K₂. Sometimes called the X-Factor, K₂ is found in high vitamin butter oil.

High vitamin butter oil is extracted from deep yellow butter fat using no heat. It is derived from the milk of cows that feed solely on 100% rapidly growing grass. Research shows that K₂ “instructs” the body on how to utilize vitamins A and D. Yet this crucial nutrient is almost nonexistent in today’s Western diet.

Vitamin K₂ is the most biologically active form of the K vitamin. This marvelous product of nature contains the power to strengthen bones and protect against tooth decay. It supports growth, helps the body rebuild tissue, repairs teeth and bones, and is a key component in reproductive health. The wonder of K₂ is its ability to serve as a catalyst to move inactive or passive vitamins into their most efficient state.

I was thrilled to learn that Beeyoutiful now offers K₂ as a dietary supplement. Adding this to your diet can ensure that you get maximum benefits from vitamins A and D. This product, appropriately named Katalyst, also includes alfalfa, a rich source of vitamin K. In addition, Beeyoutiful carries the Dynamic Duo (vitamins A and D₃) and when used in conjunction with Katalyst, you’ll boost and build a healthy immune system.

Oil Recovery

When we compiled our facts, it was obvious Joan could benefit from high vitamin butter oil. We gave her a small dose twice each day and within a week, her appetite revived, cognitive skills sharpened, and she gained weight. Her strength increased daily and where she had previously been completely bedridden, she began to walk the halls of the hospital with the help of her physical therapist.

We continued to give Joan butter oil, and her progress persisted. At one point, the doctor pulled her chart, surveyed her blood tests, and admitted that he couldn’t explain the turnaround in Joan, but we believe the high vitamin butter oil stimulated and strengthened her immune system. The doctors had given no hope for Joan’s recovery-and in fact, advised us to call hospice-but today she is back at home, has a good appetite, and takes her butter oil daily.

High vitamin butter oil boasts numerous benefits, and it’s no surprise that the people groups Dr. Price studied were sturdy, healthy folks. Take a look at what’s in this remarkable food:

– Butyric Acid – Reduces inflammation in intestines, has antifungal and antitumor effects;

– Stearic Acid – Works to steady blood pressure and stimulates heart muscles to contract, helps lower total blood cholesterol and LDL cholesterol;

– Caproic Acid – Contains anti-viral effects;

– Lauric Acid – Has ability to kill many strains of fungi and yeast;

– Glycosphingolipids – Protects against gastrointestinal infections, particularly in those most susceptible (young children and the elderly);

– Oleic Acid – Reduces plasma cholesterol and LDL cholesterol;

– CLA Isomer 9, 11 – A naturally-occurring trans fat that may inhibit tumor growth, prevent heart disease, and reduce body fat;

– Myristic Acid – A significant factor that increases the good cholesterol, HDL;

– Quinones – A group of organic compounds that includes K and E vitamins as well as CoQ enzyme families.

Who would have thought butter could provide such a variety of benefits? When our family learned about such a beneficial food product that occurs naturally, is derived without chemical intervention, and doesn’t involve a restructure of molecular design, we were hooked. We all now regularly use high vitamin butter oil to ensure that the above ingredients aren’t left out of our diets.

Butter Days Are Here Again

Additional research by Dr. Price revealed that when butter and cod liver oils are taken together, they complement one another. High-vitamin butter oil contains an omega-6 fatty acid, while cod liver oil is rich in omega-3. The saturated fatty acids in the butter oil launch and efficiently use the unsaturated fatty acids in the cod liver oil.

The crew at Beeyoutiful now offers Organic 3 Extra Virgin Butter Oil – Available in butter-gel which can be taken by spoon with honey or syrup, can be used on toast, or taken straight (delivers a creamy, rich taste).

This delectable golden butter offers benefits for any person-young, old, or in between! Our modern diets (even those without processed foods) lack the dense vitamins that butterfat delivers. A dose of high vitamin butter oil offers a powerful boost to anyone who wants to better utilize the minerals in his or her diet. So I say, bring on the butter!

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*Not her real name