For centuries, ‘Desi Ghee’ (clarified butter) has been used as one of the most popular cooking ingredients in almost every Indian household. But it is often deemed as a hurdle in weight loss journeys. It is a common perception among people that ghee is fattening and leads to weight gain. If you too, think the same, you are highly mistaken! Desi ghee, especially the one made from cow’s milk, is packed with an excellent source of fat-soluble vitamins and healthy fatty acids that aid in weight loss. Here I am listing several ghee benefits that will enforce you to make it a part of your daily diet.
The Bollywood’s beautiful Bebo, Kareena Kapoor Khan has also shared her love for ghee several times. She once said, “My grandma was so beautiful even in her 80s, and she used to eat ghee all her life. I believe her clear skin was because of all the ghee she had eaten. Ghee also makes your body supple and keeps you energetic.” Ghee is one of the food items that she swears by!
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Ghee Benefits- Helps In Weight Loss
It is the general tendency of weight-watchers to see only the fat in ghee and not its composition. Ghee is fully loaded with essential amino acids, which makes the fat cells to shrink in size and thus assist in mobilising the fat. So, if you are struggling hard to slim down or want to get rid of that stubborn belly fat, include ghee in your daily diet.
Ghee contains Omega 3 and Omega 6 essential fatty acids which are known to help increase lean body mass while reducing fat mass. Just replace all unhealthy fats like vegetable oils with ghee and use it for roasting, sautéing or baking your favourite healthy dishes.
Makes Skin Glow
Consuming ghee can aid in defying your age clock. Ghee is a rich source of antioxidants. It contains vitamin E, one of the most powerful antioxidants found in food. This helps in adding moisture to your skin and brings a glow to the face. Ghee is suitable for all skin types and it also has vital fatty acids that are extremely powerful in making skin soft and supple.
Actress Kareena Kapoor Khan had revealed in one of her interviews that ghee is the secret behind her glowing skin. She is very fond of ghee and always adds a spoonful of desi ghee in her hot plate of dal-rice or khichdi.
If you have got dry and rough skin, you can directly apply ghee onto your skin as a nourishing and moisturizing face pack. For a luscious pout too, just smear a bit of ghee on your lips and get rid of that chapped skin.
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Builds Strong Bones
Ghee is a rich source of fat-soluble vitamins that help in the growth and development of the bones. Eating ghee daily can help you get the required amounts of Vitamin K which is responsible for making your bones stronger. Vitamin K in ghee directly affects bone metabolism and also helps in maintaining the calcium in bones.
Improves Digestion
For a healthy digestive tract, consume clarified butter (ghee). It contains butyric acid, a fatty acid that stimulates gastric juice to aid in digestion. Butyrate provides energy for the cells in the colon, causes the growth and repair of new tissues in the digestive tract and thus helps support gut barrier function.
Ghee is the one ingredient that doesn’t slow down the process of digestion like oil and butter.
Relieves Constipation
Constipation is one of the most common ailments faced by several people. If you are one of them, start adding ghee to your foods as it helps in clearing bowels easily.
Apart from increasing water and fibre intake, start taking 1 teaspoon of ghee in a cup of hot milk at bedtime. It is an effective and gentle means of relieving constipation as it helps lubricate the inside of the intestines.
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Reduces Inflammation
Ghee has anti-inflammatory properties. It possesses large quantities of butyrate, a fatty acid that soothes inflammation in various parts of the body, especially in the gastrointestinal tract.
According to Ayurveda, ghee creates a more alkaline system that helps in reducing inflammation. Ghee has been regularly used in Ayurvedic medicines to treat burns and swelling.
Ghee helps in preventing various inflammatory conditions like arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes and even certain types of cancer.
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Increases Immunity
Ghee is the immune system’s best friend as it has detoxification properties. It creates an alkaline environment in the body which makes it extremely difficult for disease to thrive.
Ghee produces butyric acid which supports the production of killer T cells in the gut (Killer T cells are known to work against allergens and foreign particles that enter our bodies). This way, ghee acts as a body cleanser, removes impurities from the body and strengthens our immune system.
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Boosts Energy
Ghee is a healthier source of energy as compared to most of the carbs. Just add a teaspoon of ghee in your breakfast and get an extra dose of instant energy. This will help you to get through those unbearable mornings before work.
Ghee is a powerhouse of energy which is why many athletes add ghee to their diet so that they don’t feel depleted in the middle of their workout session.
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How Much To It?
Moderation is the key! Make sure to consume ghee within an ideal range. Preferably one teaspoon of pure ghee, three times a day will do wonders for your health and beauty.
The best part is that it does not affect people with a dairy intolerance. So, if you are lactose-intolerant, you may rejoice! This is because when ghee is made, most of the impurities and milk solids are taken out. Ghee is completely free of the milk sugar lactose and the milk protein casein whereas, in butter, these are present. So, ghee is the better choice than butter for people who have allergies or sensitivities to these dairy components.