Ghee, in India, is considered to be sacred and is celebrated as an auspicious ingredient. From pujas to weddings and naming ceremonies to shraaddha, ghee is a vital part of every Indian event. It is considered to be the best for nourishment and healing and is used often in the daily rituals of cooking and in worship. Ayurveda mentions the benefits of eating ghee and considers it as an essential part of a balanced diet.
What’s Good About Ghee?
After the process of removing all the moisture, milk solids and impurities from milk, ghee is made. Ghee is rich in fatty acids (Omega 3 and Omega 9) which are considered to be essential for the development of the brain. It not only helps in brain development but is also known to be rich in vitamins that build immunity and solve major skin problems. It is preferred by most Indian mothers for their baby’s overall development. And is also used in Ayurveda for medicinal purposes due to the high ghee nutritional value.
10 Benefits Of Ghee That You Shouldn’t Miss Out On
Ancient and modern health experts have always spoken in favour of including ghee in our daily diet. It is also a great Indian superfood for all. Here are some wonderful benefits of eating ghee.
1. Boosts Energy
Ghee benefits athletes and people with active, high-energy lifestyles and even growing children. Ghee can provide the necessary burst of energy that you need to get through a challenging day.
2. Decreases Glycemic Index
In India, spreading ghee over chapatis is standard practice. Applying ghee on chapatis not only makes it moist and digestible but also brings down the glycemic index of the chapatis.
3. Boosts Immunity
Ghee benefits your immune system as it is rich in Butyric acid. It is perhaps the most important element in ghee and has also been linked to the stimulation of T-cell production. These cells do the heavy-hitting work for the immune system.
4. Aids Digestion
Ghee benefits in improving digestion as it produces the right acids in the stomach. A lot of health experts have highlighted the fact that certain foods such as khichdi, puran poli, millet roti need to have ghee to assist us to digest them better.
5. Acts As A Brain Tonic
Ghee benefits our nerves and brains, as it contains high levels of Omega-6 fatty acids and Omega-3 fatty acids. It is said to promote all three aspects of mental functioning-learning, memory and recall as well as improve memory.
6. Melts Stubborn Fat
Many health experts stress on consuming ghee for weight loss. If you’ve got problem areas where fat gets accumulated quickly, consider adding ghee to your diet.
“Ghee has essential amino acids that help mobilise the fat and permit the fat cells to shrink in size,” says the famous health expert Rujuta Diwekar.
7. Works Wonders For Your Skin
Ghee benefits for skin are much talked about, which is why it has been the main ingredient of major care products and rituals since eras. Its vital fatty acids act as a nourishing agent that can do wonders to infuse life in your dull skin and leaves your skin soft and supple. For example, ghee is used for massaging the baby. It is also popularly used for chapped lips and feet and keeps the skin hydrated and nourished. Just not skin, even ghee for hair works like a magic as it plays a part in boosting your overall hair health.
8. Regulates Body Temperature
Ghee is an integral part of Indian winters. According to Ayurveda, ingesting ghee helps you keep warm from within. And is perhaps the reason why it is extensively used in many winter delicacies like, gajar ka halwa, moong dal sheera, badam seera, pinni and panjeeri.
9. Relieves Joint Pain
Ghee is a known lubricant that helps in reducing the inflammation caused in joints. Drinking milk with ghee benefits aids in strengthening the bones and provides relief from joint pain.
10. Treats Insomnia
We all know that having warm milk at night helps in relaxing and soothing our body. By just adding a spoon of ghee to it helps regulate the sleep cycle. It acts as a natural remedy and ensures that you get a good night’s sleep.
8 Simple Ways To Include Ghee In Your Daily Diet
You know about the ghee nutritional value but how do you use it in your daily life?
- Make it your primary cooking fat for sautéing.
- Replace butter with ghee to grease while baking.
- Toss steamed vegetables with ghee and sea salt.
- Use it in any recipe that calls for saturated fat.
- Replace coconut oil or palm oil with ghee for baking.
- While roasting vegetables, melted ghee can be used to drizzle over veggies instead of olive oil.
- Add it to your glass of warm milk.
- Include this as a magic ingredient in your skincare home remedies.
In spite of all the benefits that ghee offers, in today’s time ghee is often misunderstood to be unhealthy. The reason is a lack of information about this superfood. Even though it has several benefits, let’s not forget that eating unhealthy amounts can lead to problems. Two teaspoons of ghee a day will take care of all your needs!