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Ghee Benefits: Unveiling The Golden Goodness For Your Well-Being

By Dr. Nikita Toshi +2 more

Key Highlights:

  • Ghee, a type of clarified butter, has long been used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine due to its potent health benefits.
  • It’s high in beneficial nutrients, including healthy fats and fat-soluble vitamins.
  • Regular consumption of ghee may offer several health benefits, which include improved digestion, reduced inflammation, enhanced heart health, and boosted immunity.
  • Incorporating ghee into your diet is simple – it can be used in cooking, baking, or even consumed on its own.
  • While ghee offers several health benefits, it’s important to consume it in moderation as part of a balanced diet.

Introduction

The genius of ghee, also known as clarified butter, has stood tall through the ages. Isn’t it a staple in both South Asian meals and age-old healing arts? This healthful offshoot of butter comes with many meaty health gains. Wondering what makes ghee so unlike typical butter?

ghee benefits

Every food carries secrets that manipulate how our bodies work. Don’t you think? It seems ghee is no different. Sometimes exalted, sometimes merely a cooking add-on, ghee holds within it a wealth of rare nutritional gems. Let’s uncover its composition, craft, and health benefits which could add more wellness to your life!

Ghee: What It Is and How It’s Made

Ghee is not just the goldish glow and nutty taste. How about revealing more about its true nature and birth from butter?

Understanding Ghee

Ghee is one sort of clarified butter. How so? Butter gets heat-treated. Water and milk bits are thrown out. Only the butterfat – the golden part – stays back. Ghee gets its pretty amber glow, deep scent, and smoke point higher than butter from being clarified.

The Process of Making Ghee

Ghee-making is an art form. It has roots in Indian customs going back many thousand years. Butter gets simmered gently till the water vanishes. Milk bits settle down and go tanning, giving ghee its known nutty taste. Straining out these bits ends the process, yielding crystal-clear ghee!

Based on what I have learned, ghee is considered a nutritionally reliable option compared to other oils and fats. This is because it contains medium chain fatty acids that are easily absorbed by the liver and quickly used as a source of energy. In simpler terms, these fatty acids bypass some of the usual digestion processes and provide a readily available energy source for the body.

Dr. Siddharth Gupta, B.A.M.S, M.D (Ayu)

Did you know?

  • Ghee has been implicated in the increased prevalence of coronary artery disease due to its saturated fatty acids and cholesterol content.[source: NCBI]
  • High doses of medicated ghee have been shown to decrease serum cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids, and cholesterol esters in psoriasis patients. [source: NCBI]
  • Ghee nourishes the body’s tissues and strengthens the brain and nervous system. [source: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
  • Ghee contains antioxidants like vitamin E, vitamin A, and carotenoids. [source: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
  • Ghee lubricates the connective tissues, making the body more flexible. [source: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Nutritional Profile of Ghee

Ghee earns respect not just for its taste and diverse culinary use but also for its nutritional profile.

1. Calories and Nutrients

Let’s get into the calories and nutrients in ghee. Don’t they shape how our bodies work?

  • Carbohydrates

From a carb point, ghee has little. It’s pretty much all fats, with dwarf traces of carbs.

  • Fats

Ghee’s rich in different fats, mainly saturated fats. Once dunked by health buffs, these fats now earn claps for things like making hormones.

2. Protein

Just like carbs, proteins are a tiny bit of ghee. Why? Clarification weeds out most milk-based proteins.

3. Vitamins and Minerals

Ghee’s got plenty of vitamins A, E, and D. Aren’t these helpful for your eyes, skin, and bones?

From what I have observed, individuals who are lactose or casein intolerant may not experience difficulties with ghee. This is because ghee is clarified butter, where the milk solids and impurities have been removed during the clarification process. As a result, most of the lactose and casein, which can cause intolerance symptoms, are eliminated, making ghee a potentially suitable option for those with lactose or casein intolerance.

Dr. Rajeev Singh, BAMS

Health Benefits of Ghee

Ghee’s health perks go beyond nutrition.

1. Role in Soothing and Healing Skin

Slather ghee on the skin, it soothes burns and cuts. Thanks to its high antioxidants! Moisturizes dry skin, faster healing when applied often.

2. Limits Exposure to Acrylamide

Heat ghee and it turns out fewer acrylamides (health risks). Fewer than other vegetable oils.

3. Influence on Serum Lipid Levels and Lipid Peroxidation

Can ghee help nail healthier fat levels in spite of popular thought? Maybe. Moderate ghee consumption might just bring down triglycerides and cholesterol.

4. Benefits for Those With Allergies

Ghee has no lactose or casein. Those often stir allergies in those with dairy sensitivity. So, ghee might make a safer butter sub for them. Sounds smart, isn’t it?

Based on what I have read, cow ghee may be beneficial for eye health. It is believed to provide nourishment to the eyes and support overall well-being. It is thought that the nutrients present in cow ghee, such as vitamin A and antioxidants, may contribute to maintaining good eye health.

Dr. Smita barode, B.A.M.S, M.S.

Culinary Uses of Ghee

Ghee’s not just a bagful of wellness; it offers a flavour punch too!

Varieties of Ghee

Regular ghee comes from cow’s milk. Other types come from buffalo milk, or veggies even. A different source, different taste!

How to Prepare Ghee at Home

Home-making ghee needs a few tools, it’s quite simple. Slowly simmer unsalted butter. Skim out the top milk bits. Strain to get your ghee!

Possible Adverse Effects

Ghee’s glowing benefits aside, look before you leap into using it way too much.

Understanding Potential Negative Impacts

Even with all the good stuff, ghee’s got high saturated fats. Consume a lot, it invites weight gain and even worsens heart issues.

Storage and Food Safety Tips for Ghee

Proper storage ensures ghee stays fresh for longer.

When It’s Best to Use Ghee

Ghee does fine at room temperature. Doesn’t even need cold storage.

How to Store Ghee Properly

Store ghee like any oil, in a sealed container. Keep it cool and dark to stop it from turning bad.

Conclusion

Ghee, this versatile fat for cooking, plays a major role in not just boosting food taste but also augmenting our health. The impressive vitamin content, lack of allergy-inducing components, reduced formation of toxins during cooking, plus potential heart benefits render it a delightful addition to our diets.

Undeniably, ghee makes an intriguing dietary addition indeed. Yet remember, moderation is key. Make sure you consult your healthcare provider before making sizeable dietary changes, particularly if you’re running on medication or struggling with health issues.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is it good to eat ghee daily?

Your doctor may suggest you include ghee in your daily diet due to its vital nutrients. However, due to its high-calorie content, it should be consumed in moderation.

Is ghee healthier than olive oil?

Both ghee and olive oil come with unique nutrient profiles and health benefits. While ghee scores high on fat-soluble vitamins, olive oil’s rich in unsaturated fats. Your healthcare provider can help decide which suits you best.

Is ghee healthier than butter?

Ghee’s free of lactose and casein, common allergens. For those allergic or sensitive to butter, ghee could be a better choice. Also, it can handle high-heat cooking well.

Is a spoonful of ghee good for you?

A spoonful of ghee can up your intake of key nutrients. But, always consult your healthcare provider or a dietitian as needs vary based on health status, body habits, and lifestyle.

References:

  1. National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Acrylamide formation in vegetable oils and animal fats during heat treatment [Internet]. [cited 2023 Jul 20]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27374529
  2. National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Vitamin A [Internet]. [cited 2023 Jul 20]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482362
  3. National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Docosahexaenoic acid content is significantly higher in ghrita prepared by traditional Ayurvedic method – PMC [Internet]. [cited 2023 Jul 20]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4061595
  4. National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Role of omega-3 fatty acids in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular Diseases: A consensus statement from the Experts’ Committee Of National Society Of Cardiometabolic Medicine – PMC [Internet]. [cited 2023 Jul 20]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9791266
  5. PubMed. Omega-3 fatty acids and inflammatory processes: from molecules to man [Internet]. [cited 2023 Jul 20]. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28900017
  6. PubMed. Circulating Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein is a Strong Risk Factor for the Early Stage of Coronary Heart Disease [Internet]. [cited 2023 Jul 20]. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30414358
  7. National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Cholesterol oxides in Indian ghee: possible cause of unexplained high risk of atherosclerosis in Indian immigrant populations [Internet]. [cited 2023 Jul 20]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2887943
  8. American Heart Association. Saturated Fat [Internet]. [cited 2023 Jul 20]. Available from: https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/fats/saturated-fats
  9. American Heart Association. The Skinny on Fats [Internet]. [cited 2023 Jul 20]. Available from: https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/cholesterol/prevention-and-treatment-of-high-cholesterol-hyperlipidemia/the-skinny-on-fats
  10. American Cancer Society. Acrylamide and Cancer Risk [Internet]. [cited 2023 Jul 20]. Available from: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/acrylamide.html
  11. National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). The effect of ghee (clarified butter) on serum lipid levels and microsomal lipid peroxidation – PMC [Internet]. [cited 2023 Jul 20]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3215354

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