Benefits of Ghee in Your Diet

Let’s talk about the benefits of ghee in your diet! Yes, truly ghee is a healthy fat. It is an elixir for me. Ayurveda considers ghee to be one of the most important health promoting fat. It is a tridoshic food, which means it balances all body types Vata, Pitta and Kapha. In Ayurveda there are specific remedies for specific situations and body types. However there are some foods that are suitable for all body types and are known as tridoshic. Ghee is one of them!

How To Make Ghee:

If you use cultured butter or yogurt made from fermented cream, you will receive all the probiotic goodness in the ghee. It is also the way ghee is made traditionally.

Ghee is made from melting the butter and removing impurities (milk solids) therefore many who are dairy intolerant can easily consume ghee.

Here is a link on how to make ghee. This is a easy homemade ghee.

The Truth About the Fat:

Many people have this misconception that fats are bad for their heart health and weight. Contrary to popular belief, not all fats are bad for our health. It all depends on the source of the fat and how is was processed. For now, know this that any vegetable oil, processed and hydrogenated corn, canola, soy bean oils are bad for health.

The saturated fat in ghee contains short chain fatty acids (SCFA). The SCFA are easily assimilated, absorbed and metabolised so they release energy. Our body required both saturated and unsaturated fats in a certain ratio. Ghee is one of the fats that come close to this ratio of having the right amount of saturated and unsaturated fats. It contains about 60% of SCFA from saturated fats and 27% from monounsaturated fats.  Ghee also contain conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and antioxidants.

Reasons to LOVE Homemade Ghee:

1. Ghee is pure saturated fat that has a high smoking point. This is great because when cooking ghee the chemical structure of the oil will not denature.
2. Ghee increases our body strength.
3. It improves vision, mental functions, intelligence and memory.
4. Ghee is also known to improve quality and quantity of semen and enhances digestion.
5. Your brain is made out of fat and it needs great quality fats for nourishment. Ghee is the only fat that supports and nourishes brain tissue and cognitive functioning.
6. When taken with meals ghee strengthens the digestive fire or the ‘agni’.
7. Your organs and tissues also need fat for nourishing; Ghee has the ability to lubricate the tissues and organs, therefore makes us more flexible. Incredible food for yogis.
8. Ghee is also the best medium or “anupan” to deliver therapeutic herbs in the body.
9. It promotes vitality and longevity.
10. Ghee can also be applied externally for burns.
11. Ghee is also used in Ayurvedic cleanses to detoxify the body even from heavy metals.

How Much Ghee to Consume:

If you have not used much oil in your cooking then a teaspoon of ghee in a meal is considered to be the right amount of ghee consumption.

How it works on all doshas:

Ghee contains all lipid nutrients for the brain and a balanced amount of digestive fire or ‘agni’ (that has the power to transform). So it nourishes the brain. For Vata type individuals this is the best form of fat for cooking and consuming. The balanced heating energy in ghee is extremely helpful for Kapha body type as it will not cool down kapha type. Lastly Pitta type individuals also benefit from ghee because It nurtures and lubricates without over heating their body.