Ancestral Wisdom Meets Modern Science
Written by Hana Clode, co-founder of Matylda Baby, a natural baby skincare brand crafted with grass-fed tallow and traditional botanicals.
I grew up in Eastern Europe, where it still feels more natural to reach for ancestral traditions than to rush to the pharmacy. In my childhood, remedies weren’t found in bottles on a shelf but in what we cooked with and kept in the pantry.
My grandmother always used tallow or lard in her kitchen. We ate it daily, and - whether coincidence or not - we seemed to get sick far less often than the other kids around. When we needed soothing for chapped skin or small scrapes, she’d make a simple beef tallow balm, just as instinctively as she cooked with it.
Back then, I didn’t think much about it. Today, as a mother myself, I see that this “forgotten fat” has been quietly carrying wisdom all along - nourishing us both inside and out.
Now, modern science is catching up. From gut health to skin resilience to even brain sharpness, grass-fed beef tallow isn’t just old-fashioned; it’s deeply relevant for our health today. Here’s how this humble fat can fuel you from the inside out.
The Forgotten Fat: Why Tallow Disappeared - and Came Back
For centuries, beef tallow was a kitchen staple. People fried with it, baked with it, and used it as a natural skin salve. It was stable, nourishing, and part of daily life.
Then came industrialisation. Seed oils, margarines, and processed spreads flooded the market. Tallow fell out of fashion, painted as “unhealthy” while shiny new products promised longer shelf lives and cheaper production.
But here’s the truth: tallow wasn’t replaced because it failed us: It was replaced because industry found something more profitable. And now, with rising awareness of the dangers of ultra-processed oils, many of us are circling back. Ancestral eating movements, regenerative farming, and skincare minimalism have all revived interest in tallow and traditional remedies like tallow balms.
What was once dismissed as outdated is now being recognised as nutrient-dense, deeply restorative, and biologically compatible with the body.
Gut Health: Feeding the Terrain
Your gut lining is more than a digestive surface; it’s a critical barrier that protects you from inflammation and disease. When that lining is weak, everything from reflux to autoimmune flares can creep in.
This is where healthy fats like grass-fed tallow step in. Unlike unstable seed oils, which oxidise easily and can irritate the gut, tallow is stable and rich in conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). CLA has been studied for its anti-inflammatory and gut-protective effects (Benjamin et al., Nutrients, 2015).
Fats also serve another role: they’re the vehicle for absorbing fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K). Without enough healthy fat, those vitamins simply don’t get into your system effectively (Amengual, Nutrients, 2021).
Since switching to cooking with tallow (we get our one from The Tallowman), I noticed something unexpected - my digestion felt calmer, meals left me satisfied longer, and even my skin’s morning puffiness began to fade. My under-eye circles softened too. A gut nourished with the right fats doesn’t just work better, it shows up in your energy and appearance.
Skin Barrier & Glow: Your Skin’s Kombucha
Tallow is one of the few natural substances that almost perfectly mimics the structure of our skin’s own sebum. That means it sinks in easily, nourishes deeply, and doesn’t just sit on the surface.
It’s rich in vitamins A and D, both essential for skin repair and renewal (Slominski et al Physiological Reviews, 2013). Topical fats, like those in tallow, have also been shown to restore and protect the skin barrier (Elias, Journal of Clinical Investigation, 2005).
I’ve seen this firsthand. Tallow balm we make at Matylda Baby is the best nappy rash cream I’ve ever used. Even when my baby had a severe rash - we are talking a tiny droplets of blood after one missed angry poo - applying tallow a few times brought it under control faster than anything else I’ve tried before.
I’ve used tallow on my daughter since she was a tiny baby - first as skincare, later adding it to her diet. She loves it. And yes - she’s the cleverest, hairiest toddler around!
It’s not just for babies though. Adults benefit just as much. Where “empty creams” full of cheap fillers try to mask dryness, tallow works with your skin’s biology to strengthen and heal. Your skin recognises recognises the beef tallow balm like an old friend.
Brain & Hormone Benefits: Surprising Clarity
Our brains are about 60% fat. They need stable, nourishing fats for memory, clarity, and focus. Grass-fed tallow provides cholesterol and fat-soluble vitamins that help maintain hormone balance and neural function.
There’s also compelling evidence that certain fats improve mood. One randomised controlled trial found that eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, an omega-3 fatty acid) performed as well as fluoxetine (a common antidepressant) in treating major depression (Jazayeri et al Aust N Z J Psychiatry, 2008). The combination of both was even more effective.
But here’s the catch: getting omega-3 from fish often means getting microplastics and toxins along with it. That’s where ruminant fats, like beef tallow, are interesting - they offer many of the same stabilising benefits without the contamination risks that come with today’s oceans.
And the results can be surprisingly tangible. For me, it wasn’t just energy or mood - it was memory. After 12 years of never remembering my phone number (and honestly not caring), I suddenly realised one day during a Vinted parcel run that I knew it. Just like that. It felt like my brain was firing differently; clearer, sharper, more connected.
Why Grass-Fed Matters
Not all tallow is created equal. Grass-fed beef tallow has a superior fatty acid profile, richer in omega-3s and CLA, and contains higher levels of fat-soluble vitamins compared to grain-fed (Daley et al., Nutrition Journal, 2010). It’s also better for the planet and farming ethics. By using nose-to-tail products, nothing is wasted.
Supporting regenerative farmers means supporting soil health, biodiversity, and
local economies. For those of us who want our wellness choices to align with our values, grass-fed isn’t optional, it’s essential.
Everyday Ways to Use Tallow
The beauty of tallow is its versatility.
- In the kitchen: Tallow is heat-stable, making it perfect for frying and roasting without producing toxic byproducts (Raatz et al., Journal of the American Oil Chemists’ Society, 2016).
- On the skin: It makes a soothing balm for everything from chapped lips to eczema patches, safe even for babies.
- As lifestyle swaps: Replacing seed oils with tallow in cooking, and synthetic lotions with tallow in skincare, has been a game changer in my home.
For my daughter, tallow is both food and medicine. It’s in her crackers, on her cheeks, and in the tallow balm I keep in my bag. It’s simple, old-school, and profoundly effective.
Alive With Nutrients
From gut to glow, from memory to mood, grass-fed beef tallow is alive with the kind of nutrients your body actually recognises and knows how to use.
What once seemed outdated now feels essential. Ancestral fats, modern science, and lived experience all point to the same truth: this isn’t just fuel, it’s functional nourishment.
From your frying pan to your face cream, tallow bridges the gap between tradition and vitality. Maybe it’s time to rediscover what our grandparents already knew.
Author Bio
Written by Hana Clode, co-founder of Matylda Baby, a natural baby skincare brand crafted with grass-fed tallow and traditional botanicals. As a mum andmarketing consultant, sheblends personal experience, ancestral wisdom, and science to help families choose safer,more nourishing products for everyday health.
