GHEE: Is this SUPERFOOD worth it?

GHEE or CLARIFIED BUTTER or “fat” is very easily slid away from our kitchens because it is believed to make us fat. Ghee is an INDIAN SUPERFOOD which is very rich and important for good health, skin, and for a long happy life and which will ultimately help you to lose fat or to lose weight.
NO, IT DOES NOT MAKE YOU FAT.

1 tbsp (15g) of ghee gives you around 130 calories.

You know about VITAMIN A for good skin, bone and eyes; VITAMIN D for bone density and for absorption of calcium; VITAMIN K for blood clotting and bone health; AND VITAMIN E for good hair and skin? These all are called Fat Soluble Vitamins meaning that they need FAT to be absorbed by our body. So, if you won’t eat the good fats (ghee, here), your multivitamins (which you take religiously everyday) won’t work or simply you’ll become nutrient deficient because these vitamins won’t be absorbed by the body!
Okay? Okay.

Ghee is made from milk, by churning it and then by simmering (or heat clarification) the cream formed by it. So, it comes from Dairy and if you are a VEGAN, then you cannot consume it. SORRY!

NUTRITION

Talking about Nutrition, Ghee has Vitamins A, K and E so that means good skin and hair can be achieved by eating ghee. Also, it has calcium and potassium which is beneficial for good bones and for body fluids’ regulation.

HOW AND WHEN TO CONSUME GHEE

It’s best to consume homemade ghee from the milk of a desi cow/buffalo. Don’t use the packed tetra-pack milk to prepare ghee. Half of the nutrition is lost in those packed milks.

You can consume it all around the year in all 3 meals. However, since ghee is made from milk so you may have to see for allergies just in case you are allergic to dairy.

USES AND BENEFITS of GHEE

Firstly, It is very tasty and enhances the taste of any food that we eat. Secondly, it reduces cravings, PMS and hunger. Thirdly, it is very moisturising so can be used to curb the dryness.

In India, ghee is also used for medicinal and religious purposes besides cooking. Ghee along with salt is actively used on burns in Indian households to cure the burning sensation immediately.

Ghee can be used to increase memory, flexibility and healthy digestion. It also actively greases our body joints.

You should eat ghee to lose weight. Yes you read it right. Ghee is fats, so when you combine good fats with carbs, it helps to reduce the GI (glycemic Index) of food. The food is converted to glucose slowly and is not stored as fats which in turn help you lose fat or weight eventually.

In fact, Protein and fat both tend to delay stomach emptying, thereby slowing the rate at which carbohydrate can be digested and absorbed. Read more about fats and GI here.

Ghee has proven to give a very soft and supple looking, radiant and glowing skin, SO EAT THAT GHEE!

BEWARE

It is often recommended that you get 15% of daily fat requirements from ghee. But if you have high cholesterol, then it should be reduced to 5-6% as increased consumption of ghee will increase your cholesterol (LDL, THE BAD ONE) thereby increasing your risk to heart diseases. Read more about it here.

Summary:

So, to conclude, eat your ghee everyday. Add as much ghee in every meal as much as you get its taste but not as much as that you get only ghee’s taste. Our body needs fats, and ghee is a good source of it.