Is Eating Ghee Every Day Good for You?
The latest health craze circulating the internet is to incorporate a spoonful of ghee into your daily diet. Ghee is a clarified butter made from the milk of a buffalo or cow traditionally used as an ingredient in South Asian recipes, as well as medicines and in religious rituals in parts of Southeast Asia. Now celebrities have started endorsing the idea of drinking a teaspoon of warm, molten ghee first thing in the morning. But how healthy is ghee? Is this so-called "wellness tip" actually beneficial for your health?
In this OneHowTo article we explain whether or not eating ghee every day is good for you.
What is Ghee?
First and foremost, ghee is fat. In fact, the word ghee actually means fat in Hindi. Ghee is the fat from butter that is left over after all of the water and milk solids are taken out and is an ingredient that is mostly used as an alternative to cooking oils.
Is Ghee Healthy?
As with most fats, they are healthy to consume in moderation. Foods that contain healthy fats help our body to preserve cell membrane structure, absorb important nutrients and aid in proper immune system function.
However, most of the fat calories in ghee comes from saturated fat and consuming high amounts of saturated fat is not healthy.
Should I Add Ghee to my Diet?
You should only be consuming 10 per cent of saturated fat in your daily diet. If you are not consuming any other foods with a high fat content in your regular diet, a teaspoon of ghee may be a healthy addition to your diet. But if your diet already consists of fat-rich foods, ghee will only increase your daily fat intake and will lead to weight gain and eventual health problems. Moreover, you can easily make it in the microwave.
What is the Nutritional Value of Ghee?
One teaspoon of ghee contains the following:
- 135 calories
- 15 grams of total fat
- 9 grams of saturated fat
- 45 percent of recommended daily amount of fat
- 45 milligrams of cholesterol
What are the Health Benefits?
Ghee has been used in South Asian cultures for centuries and it is believed to carry certain health benefits. For example, ghee contains vitamins A, D, E and K, which are fat-soluble. This means that ghee helps to absorb these vitamins. Also, vitamins A and E are also antioxidants that are great for boosting the immune system as well as promoting skin cell growth and clear vision.
Despite deriving from butter, ghee is lactose-free which is ideal for lactose intolerant people.
Ghee is also good for digestion. It helps to minimize stomach acid and helps to repair the stomach's lining. It also produces digestive enzymes which help food digest properly and reduces indigestion. Healthy digestion leads to better overall health and helps with weight loss.
What are Other Uses for Ghee?
Ghee has been used as a skin medicine. It's healing properties have led to it's use in Ayurvedic medicines which are used to cure blisters and burns. It also helps to heal and soften irritated skin when applied topically.
Ghee is most popularly known to be used to add flavour in cooking. Ghee is cooked until the milk solids are slightly browned which gives its fragrance and rich, nutty taste. Plus, since the water has evaporated from the butter, ghee is perfect to use on popcorn and won't make it soggy!
If you want to try incorporating ghee into your diet, take a look at our article on how to make naan at home.
This article is merely informative, oneHOWTO does not have the authority to prescribe any medical treatments or create a diagnosis. We invite you to visit your doctor if you have any type of condition or pain.
If you want to read similar articles to Is Eating Ghee Every Day Good for You?, we recommend you visit our Healthy living category.
