Ghee, also known as clarified butter, has been one of the major ingredients for making sweets in India & other South Asian countries. It is an integral part of each and every festival or religious function in India. Besides sweets, it is also an ingredient commonly used in various cuisines.
Ghee is made from cow or buffalo milk. Ghee has an illustrious and long history. It originated in 1500-500 BC, when people started the domestication of cattles & consumption of butter. It was noticed that due to high heat the butter used to melt and there was no way to store it for a longer period of time, so people started clarifying butter; which is how ghee came into existence.
For thousands of years, ghee has also been used in Ayurvedic medicine. It is considered as a great remedy for inflammation, digestion, as well as mental health issues. As per ayurveda, ghee provides nourishment to the nervous system. It is specially considered very beneficial for people with vata dosha. Ghee is often used as an offering for religious ceremonies and is also used in diyas; Desi cow ghee is especially preferred as cows and products made from a cow’s milk are considered sacred as per hinduism. It is a great alternative to butter as it is easier to digest, lactose free and has a higher smoke point as compared to oil or butter, which means that it can safely be used for cooking at high heat. It can be considered as one of those kitchen staples which can never be replaced.
There are two variants of ghee available in the market, one is white in colour and the other is yellow in colour. Ghee made from buffalo milk is white in colour, whereas cow ghee is yellow in color. The one made from cow’s milk is known as pure desi ghee which is the best variant available in the market. Ghee is a great source of Omega 3 fatty acids, healthy fats, Vitamin E, D and A. Many people have a misconception that as ghee contains fats it is unhealthy and may make them obese but it’s just a myth; infact the fats present in ghee are good fats which are extremely essential for the healthy functioning of the body.
Here are few tested and proven health benefits of consuming pure ghee.
- A great cough remedy
Consuming a teaspoon of warm cow ghee directly or mixing it with ginger powder can help in getting rid of cough faster.
- Can improve eyesight
It is said that people who consume ghee on a daily basis have better eyesight. It can also protect you from getting any eye diseases.
- Helps in relieving constipation
In order to relieve constipation, you can consume one tablespoon of ghee before bed at night. It helps in healing the digestive tract which in turn relieves constipation.
- Has anti-inflammatory properties
Ghee has great anti-inflammatory properties, which can help in preventing and treating many diseases. It also raises good cholesterol levels which in turn is beneficial for heart health.
- An immune system booster
Ghee is a great source of antioxidants which helps in boosting the immune system as it helps to increase the body’s ability to effectively absorb all the essential nutrients which in turn increases the ability of the body to fight diseases.
- Great source of healthy fats
When you increase the intake of good fats it helps in keeping your heart healthy. Ghee also speeds up the metabolism by helping the cells in cleaning the toxins. Having a fast metabolism means losing weight easily, so ghee also contributes to weight loss.
- Good for winters
Ghee can keep you warm from the inside and hence is one of the main ingredients in the Indian dishes which are especially consumed in winter such as moong dal halwa, panjeeri, pinni and gajar ka halwa.
- Great for getting rid of clogged nose
There is a very popular home remedy as per Ayurveda in which warm pure ghee ghee is used as a nasal drop in order to clear clogged nose.
- Can reduce glycemic index of roti
Applying ghee on roti before consumption can reduce the glycemic index of roti which prevents blood sugar spikes and is good for diabetics.
- Great for skin health
Ghee has been an integral part of many beauty products. It is known to be an excellent step towards healthy, glowing and soft skin. Ghee contains high amounts of good fatty acids which helps in hydration of the skin cells.
If you haven’t yet included Ghee as a part of your well balanced diet, you are definitely missing out on the amazing health benefits it has to offer. Do add it in your meal plan and experience the benefits yourself.