Health Benefits

Ghee facts, uses and benefits

Ghee is actually a type of clarified butter that originated in ancient India and is commonly used in South Asian, Iranian and Arabic cuisines, religious rituals and traditional medicines. The word Ghee actually comes from Sanskrit word which means “sprinkled” and it basically means that the milk fat is rendered from the butter to separate the milk solids and water. Ghee is more concentrated in fat than butter because its water and milk solids been removed. Normally it is made by melting butter and skimming the fat off of the top. You’ll be left with a yellow liquid when it’s hot and a creamy looking solid one when the ghee cools down.  It has been used in Indian and Pakistani cultures for thousands of years.

Although it originated in India, ghee is quite popular in dozens of countries, mainly in Asia, certain parts of Africa, and throughout the entire Indian subcontinent. Ghee has a rather distinctive and flavorful taste and aroma that is different from butter, but it can be used in almost all of the same ways. The texture, color, and taste of ghee depend on the quality of the butter, source of the milk used in the process and the duration of the boiling. Now, butter can be very dangerous for people due to the high concentration of fat, and ghee is no exception; in fact, ghee is pure fat, so only small amounts are needed, or else it can have negative effects on your health. If eaten in moderation, ghee can provide your body with higher concentrations of other essential nutrients that aren’t available in butter. Ghee is used mainly in Indian Cooking and in Ayurvedic Practices.  Recently, however, ghee has become quite popular in high-fat diets as the fats in ghee have been recognized for their healthy qualities.

Ghee Quick Facts
Name: Ghee
Origin Ancient India
Colors Yellow to orange to deep red
Shapes Yellow liquid when it’s hot and a creamy looking solid when ools down
Taste Rich nutty taste
Calories 112 Kcal./cup
Major nutrients Total Fat (36.37%)
Vitamin A (15.43%)
Vitamin E (2.40%)
Vitamin K (0.92%)
Choline (0.53%)
Health benefits Heart Health Markers, Energy Booster, Builds Strong Bones, Help to lose weight, Immune System Booster, Cures Thyroid Dysfunction, Cancer, Relieves Constipation, Positively Affects the Mind and Mood, Reduces Cholesterol, Eye Health, Antioxidant Activity,Treats Burns, Improves Digestion, Reduce Inflammation, Help you make beautiful babies, Cures Cough, It is lactose friendly, Avoid Allergy Issues, Improve Psychological Health,Treat Fever, Treat Dark Lips, Aid Hair Growth
Name Ghee
Native Originated in ancient India
Name in Other Languages Arabic: samna (سمنة), samneh
Bangla: ghī (ঘী)
Brazil: manteiga clarificada
English: butter Oil, clarified butter, drawn butter, seafood butter, butter oil
French: beurre clarifié, beurre noisette (hazelnut butter, nutty butter or brown butter)
German: ausgelassene butter, Butterschmalz, geklärte butter (means butter that is clear and free of animal protein)
Gujrati: ghī (ઘી)
Hindi: ghī (घी), desi ghee, shuddh ghee
Kannada: tuppa (ತುಪ್ಪ)
Malayalam: Neyyuh
Marathi: toop (तूप), sajuk tup
Nepali: ghyū (घ्यू)
Portuguese: manteiga de garrafa
Punjabi: ghyo (ਘਿਉ)
Russian: Toplenoe maslo (Топлёное масло) – means clarified butter
Sanskrit: ghrit (घृत), ghritam, ghritham, ghrut, ghrutham, sarpi (सर्पि)
Somali: subaag
Spanish: mantequilla clarificada
Tamil: ney (நெய்)
Telugu: neyyi (నెయ్యి )
Urdu: ghī (گھی), khalis ghee
Ghee Shape Yellow liquid when it’s hot and a creamy looking solid when ools down
Ghee Color Yellow
Taste Rich nutty taste
Major Nutrition Total Fat (lipid) 12.73 g (36.37%)
Vitamin A, RAE 108 µg (15.43%)
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) 0.36 mg (2.40%)
Vitamin K (phylloquinone) 1.1 µg (0.92%)
Choline 2.9 mg (0.53%)
Tryptophan 0.001 g (0.23%)
Isoleucine 0.002 g (0.12%)
Threonine 0.002 g (0.11%)
Calcium, Ca 1 mg (0.10%)
Valine 0.002 g (0.09%)
Calories in 1 tsp (12.8 gm) 112 Kcal

Health benefits of Ghee

Ghee is a premium quality food having lots of nutritional health benefits and used for number of medicinal and eating purposes. It is considered as the essential part of the balanced diet. It contains both Omega 3 and Omega 9 fatty acids including minerals, vitamins A, E, D and K, conjugated linoleic acid and lots of phenolic anti-oxidants. Some of the health benefits of the ghee are mentioned below:

1. Heart Health Markers

Research done on both human and animals concluded that consuming ghee may lead to favorable changes in some heart health markers. In an animal research ghee was found to increase HDL (“good”) cholesterol and reduce the formation of fatty deposits in the arteries. On the other hand, it also increased fasting blood sugar levels. Furthermore, in a controlled study of 206 healthy adults, ghee was the fat source responsible for the greatest increase in ApoA, a protein in HDL particles that’s linked to a reduced risk of heart disease.

However, it’s important to differentiate between ghee made from dairy and ghee made from vegetable oil, which is known as vanaspati ghee or vegetable ghee. Vegetable ghee consists of 14–40% trans fats. Some researchers believe that increased consumption of vegetable ghee may be contributing to rising heart disease rates among Indians and Pakistanis.(1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9)

2. Energy Booster

The wide range of fats that compose ghee include medium-chain fatty acids, that are quite beneficial for the body and can be processed by the liver and burnt as energy, not passing into adipose tissue or contributing to weight gain. For athletes or other people with active, high-energy lifestyles, ghee can offer the required burst of energy that you might need to get through a particularly challenging day!(10)

3. Builds Strong Bones with Vitamin K2

Fat-soluble vitamins, K2 which is found in ghee is essential for the body to help utilize minerals, including calcium. In fact, research show that Vitamin K builds bones better than calcium.

Proper levels of Vitamin K2 help to protect against tooth decay, supports proper growth and development of bones, and protects against the calcification of the arteries, also known as atherosclerosis.

4. Help to lose weight

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) found in ghee has cardiovascular benefits; it’s also been shown to help prevent weight gain and aid in weight loss. According to one research, CLA supplementation in overweight participants showed considerable weight loss over a six month period. Further research is needed, but if you’re hoping to shed pounds, replacing rancid, highly processed vegetable oils with grass-fed ghee may be a good place to start.(11)

5. Immune System Booster

Butyric acid, perhaps the most important element in ghee, has also been linked to the stimulation of T-cell production, which is the heavy-hitting cell of the immune system. In other words, ghee can supercharge your immune system in addition to all of its other health benefits!(12)

6. Cures Thyroid Dysfunction

Thyroid dysfunction is a very common disorder among middle-aged women. It can lead to hormonal disturbance in the body along with reproductive problems. Clarified butter or ghee consists of no milk solids, and this dairy product is quite beneficial for those suffering from this unfortunate condition. The gastrointestinal tracts and the immune system, which are both compromised by an abnormal thyroid gland, are protected by ghee. Apart from that, thyroxin hormone is also regulated by chemicals present in ghee.

7. Cancer

Several researches comparing ghee to soybean oil suggests that ghee may reduce the risk of certain cancers, including breast cancer.

In one research, rats fed 10% of calories from ghee for 44 weeks had lower levels of several breast cancer markers than rats fed 10% of calories from soybean oil.

However, more high-quality research is required to confirm these results.(13), (14), (15)

8. Relieves Constipation

Ghee is a wonderful remedy for those who suffer from constipation. In ancient India, as directed by Ayurveda, ghee enemas were in vogue. However, you need not adopt such an intrusive measure to relieve yourself of constipation. Apart from increased intake of fiber, pregnant women are often recommended to take a glass of milk every night with a teaspoon of ghee. This can ease up constipation and also boost metabolism.

9. Positively Affects the Mind and Mood

Ghee is said to have a positive impact on our brains’ neurotransmitters, which in turn make us happier. Organic butter and ghee on some crackers will cheer you up not only because of its taste, but also because of its chemical composition that affects the hormonal system of the body.

10. Reduces Cholesterol

Many people think that consumption of ghee increases cholesterol. But ghee is the healthier and better option than butter if you have low cholesterol. This is due to ghee helps in reducing cholesterol in our intestine and serum. So, people who are looking for the best source to get healthy fats, better go for ghee as it is made out of saturated fat.

11. Eye Health

Ghee consists of significant amount of vitamin A which is ideal for protecting eye health. Carotenoids are antioxidants that specify in eliminating and neutralizing the free radicals that attack the macular cells, thus avoiding macular degeneration and the development of cataracts.(16)

12. Antioxidant Activity

The health benefits of vitamin A are widely exposed and the powers of carotenoids in terms of eliminating free radicals in the body are extremely valuable. When you add the antioxidant capacity of conjugated linoleic acid and butyric acid to the power of vitamin A contained in ghee, you have a powerful anti-cancer substance that might help reduce oxidative stress throughout the body.(17)

13. Treats Burns

Ghee is one of the best natural home remedies for burns. It even helps in handling swelling caused by burns on different parts of the body. Apart from this it also does a lot for your skin. It decreases inflammation, dryness of skin and scalp etc. Thus, apply ghee on the affected areas and get relief soon from these problems.

14. Improves Digestion

As mentioned above, the short-chain fatty acid butyrate helps support a healthy digestive tract. It works by encouraging the conversion of fiber into more butyric acid, which is vital for detoxifying as well as the removal of other fats and toxins. Moreover, ghee benefits include increasing gastric acid and aiding in efficient digestion.

15. Reduce Inflammation

Ghee consists of butyric acid, which is one of the most beneficial short-chain fatty acids that the body needs. Butyric acid has been shown, in recent research, to actually decrease inflammation in parts of the body, particularly in the gastrointestinal tract, and is now a suggested dietary addition for some people with ulcerative colitis. Additionally, ghee enemas have long been used in traditional medicine for inflammation of all kinds.(18)

16. Help you make beautiful babies

If you’re planning to conceive anytime soon, vitamin K2 is an important nutrient to include into your diet. According to the Weston A. Price Foundation, vitamin K2 plays an important role in facial and dental development. Children born to mothers with high levels of vitamin K2 are more likely to have wide, symmetrical faces with plenty of room for straight, healthy teeth later on. Grass-fed ghee is a great source of vitamin K2, making it an important food for pre-conception and pregnancy.

17. Cures Cough

This is an old home remedy, and is quite effective too. You can either eat a teaspoon of warm ghee directly or make an herbal concoction.

18. It is lactose friendly

Are you deprived of scrumptious cheeses and yummy chocolate milk because you’re lactose intolerant? Trust me; you’re not missing out since there is something you can gobble down which is not only delish, but also as comforting as a warm glass of milk at night. Since ghee is made from the milk solids, the impurities have been removed, so research has proven that people who are lactose intolerant usually have absolutely no problems consuming ghee. There you have it a comfort food minus the lactose and gluten! However, be sure to consult with your physician before trying it.

19. Avoid Allergy Issues

Helping the body avoid allergy issue is another of the benefits of ghee. Because ghee is dairy-free, which means it has the entire dairy residue simmered; people with lactose intolerance or impossibility to consume butter can be free to use the flavorful butter that is in the form of ghee. They will also not have to worry about any gastrointestinal problems which often follow.

20. Improve Psychological Health

Improving the psychological health is another health benefit of ghee. It is very appropriate for people desiring intellect, intelligence, and memory. The clarified butter is combined with neem leaves and mustard, which is then used for fumigation to ward off evil forces. Ghee is also applied to the scalp to aid in calming the mind down.

21. Treat Fever

As mentioned previously, ghee is also used to treat fever. The intake of ghee helps to relieve burning sensation and then relieve from fever condition. However, you have to remember that ghee is just used for those who have completely cured fever and just use the remedy to regain the immunity and strength, not for people with present fever.

22. Treat Dark Lips

Besides improving the skin health, ghee is quite beneficial to treat dark lips, mainly in the winter. You just have to massage your lips with ghee during the winter to protect your lips against chapping and prevent dark lips. When you have already suffered from dark lips, you should massage them with ghee as a pure homemade remedy that will then lighten dark lips very effectively.

23. Aid Hair Growth

Ghee is quite beneficial to boost the hair growth. The reason is that it is very beneficial in treating split ends that often occur when people don’t nourish their hair enough. While chemical treatments with products available on the market can dry out the hair and cause split ends, using a homemade treatment with ghee is ideal for treating split ends. You just have to warm the clarified butter slightly then apply it to the hair ends, wait for 1 hour and finally shampoo and condition it again.

Treatments Using Ghee in Ayurveda

Below are some tips for using ghee in our day to day actions.

Ghee Beauty Benefits

Apart from health benefits, ghee is also known to provide a lot of beauty benefits.

Tips for using Ghee

How to Eat

Other Facts

How to Make Ghee

What You Will Need:

Directions

How to Select and Store Ghee

If you are buying ghee from the market, check the clarity, pureness, good odor and transparency. Avoid buying ghee of bad smell, unclear or changing color. However, ghee can be made at home in some simple and easy steps.

It can be stored in the jar, which is closed tightly. Do not close the jar when ghee is warm otherwise it will get moisturized and spoiled after some days. Keep the jar in the cool and dry place to store it safely for years. Do not store the ghee jar in the refrigerator as it makes fog inside the jar which spoils your ghee.

What is Ghee Used for?

  1. Deep-Frying

Ghee is the ideal fat to use for deep-frying, as it has a high smoke point of 250°C (482°F). Try using ghee to make onion pakodas, a gluten-free fried treat.

  1. Toasting Spices

Traditional Indian cooking calls for toasting all spices before adding them to a dish for flavor. Toast your spices in ghee to infuse the cooking fat before making a soup, stew, or curry.

  1. A Condiment

Use ghee in place of butter as a spread on toast, on steamed vegetables, or on steak. Ghee contains a lot more flavor than regular butter, so use sparingly.

  1. Coffee

The trend of adding butter to coffee works just as well with nutty ghee; try this bulletproof coffee for amazing health benefits starting first thing in the morning.

  1. Healing the Skin

Ayurvedic medicine calls for using ghee for skincare; first, the ghee must be carefully washed 100 times to purify it; it can then be used as a fantastic moisturizer that also reduces the appearance of scars.

  1. Healing the Lips

Ghee’s natural vitamin content makes it a great cure for chapped or dry lips. Apply a few drops before going to bed, and wake up with super soft, moisturized lips.

  1. Ayurvedic Massage

Ghee is traditionally related with rejuvenation in Ayurvedic medicine, making it a great tool in Ayurvedic massage.

Disadvantages, Side Effects and Precautions of Ghee

Ghee is very beneficial to the normal person who required it however; it is harmful to the people who are overweight, suffering from heart, kidney, liver or stomach problems. One or two days a week for one time can be taken by anyone however, if you want to add it to your daily diet, it is very essential to know all the pros and cons of the ghee. Some of the drawbacks, side effects and precautions of the ghee are mentioned below:

How Much Ghee to Eat per Day

Healthy people may have ghee around 10 to 15 g a day to get necessary nutrients like vitamins A, D, E, and K, minerals, fatty acids, protein and etc. One tablespoon of ghee provides around 135 calories. Try to consume homemade ghee as it is free from the chemicals like preservative and vegetable fats. Be sure about your health conditions before including it to your diet or you must involve in daily physical exercises. Consult your doctor to get accurate dose of the ghee taken by you on daily basis according to your health status.

References:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghee

http://whatisghee.com/

http://www.amritaveda.com/learning/articles/ghee.asp

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/09/25/ghee-benefits_n_5883174.html

https://fortheloveofghee.com/ghee-facts/

http://www.organicauthority.com/what-is-ghee-all-about-this-healthy-fat-and-7-ways-to-use-it-4-may-surprise-you/

http://www.tipsfornaturalbeauty.com/2850/12-reasons-you-should-using-ghee/#.WEzwbNJ97IU

http://www.foodrenegade.com/ghee-a-lovely-fat/

https://www.davidwolfe.com/10-health-benefits-ghee/

http://www.ayurvedicyogi.com/ghees-role-in-the-ayurvedic-diet/

https://mavcure.com/ghee-preparation-health-benefits/

http://primalblissnutrition.com/2014/12/all-about-grass-fed-ghee/

http://www.womenplanet.in/health-fitness/health-benefits-desi-ghee

https://www.lifetimestyles.com/ingredients-and-uses/10-health-benefits-of-ghee

69%
69%
Awesome

Comments

comments