Ghee is a type of clarified butter. It is more concentrated in fat than butter because its water and milk solids have been removed. It has been used in Indian cultures for thousands of years. The word comes from the Sanskrit word meaning “sprinkled.” Ghee was originally created to prevent the butter from spoiling during warm weather.
In addition to cooking, it is used in the Indian alternative medicine system Ayurveda, where it’s known as ghrita. Because its milk solids have been removed, so it does not require refrigeration and can be kept at room temperature for several weeks. For now, let’s look at 10 things that most people don’t know about Indian desi cow ghee.
1. Ghee has medicinal uses
Ayurveda has an important place reserved for ghee. If you didn’t already know, Ayurvedic medicine stresses on the balance between 3 elements or doshas called Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. When there is an imbalance between any of these elements, then we face health problems.
Desi cow ghee is used as an agent to heal the body from inside out. Many ayurvedic medicinal herbs are administered by mixing them with desi cow ghee for a better effect. This healthy fat acts as a catalyst (Catalysis) in the healing process for the body by helping the body absorb the medicines much better.
2. Ghee supports weight loss
Desi cow ghee is used as an essential element in any Ayurvedic treatment associated with weight management and better digestion. The fatty chain acids that are present in pure ghee can actually break down bad fats in your body. Also, the positive effect desi ghee has on your digestive system makes it quite a well-liked ingredient. Apart from enriching your body with rich vitamins, ghee cleanses your system making you feel light from inside out as you shed the kilos.
If you are want to lose weight, don’t try to avoid this magical ingredient. Consuming up to 2 teaspoons of desi cow ghee per day is highly recommended as part of a healthy diet plan.
3. Ghee has a high smoke point
You can ask what do you mean by smoke point or why is a high smoke point a good thing? Very simply put, the smoke point is the temperature at which an oil to burn and smoke. When this happens, the nutrients in the oil are destroyed and instead the toxins are released. Therefore, it’s logical that a fat with a high smoke point (can withstand more heat before getting to the point of smoking), is a better option for cooking.
Ghee has a smoking point of 250 °C (482 °F) which is higher than your regular sunflower oil or coconut oil. You can even use desi ghee for deep frying because of this strong quality and be rest assured that even at high temperatures the benefits of ghee will be intact.
4. Desi ghee makes for an excellent massage oil
Applying desi cow ghee all over the body is also a common practice in Ayurvedic massage. The combined effect of the massage strokes and the absorption of desi ghee into the skin is truly therapeutic. This form of massage or Abhyanga (oil massage) is said to slow down the aging process because of the impact it has on the body and mind.
Desi cow ghee is supposed to be rich in antioxidants and it’s a wonderful agent to make your sensory organs more effective. This is the reason that it is use for body massages is considered to have a healing effect and works as a cure for people struggling with various types of inflammation.
Read our blog – Why The Pure Desi Cow Milk Ghee Is Costlier Than Normal Ghee?
5. Ghee For Nutrients
Ghee is a healthy saturated fat. Aside from being one of the highest sources of butyric acid, ghee contains a full spectrum of short, medium, and long chain fatty acids (LCFA) , essential Omega-3 fatty acids, Omega-9 fatty acids and vitamins A, D, E, K at least nine antioxidants, and other minerals.
6. Ghee, a brain tonic
Our brain is composed of 60 percent fat. It needs all kinds of fats including saturated fats found in ghee. There a small requirement of saturated fats in our body. It is one of the main components of our brain cells. The myelin sheath which covers the axons of nerve cells is made of saturated fats. Saturated fats such as ghee are essential for healthy brain and nerve activities. Those people who have a shortage of saturated fats in their body suffer from dementia. Desi cow ghee make us smarter and are essential for good brain and nerves development. Growing babies and children should be given a little desi ghee in their foods every day.
7. Ghee is Lactose-Free
People with a lactose intolerance can really find it disappointing to have to miss out on so many good food items because of their condition. The good news is that cow’s ghee made from pure milk will most likely suit you. Most of the people with lactose and casein sensitivities don’t react negatively when they include ghee in their diet.
The process of making pure ghee, especially if its made by fermenting the milk (curd), removes the lactose and only the pure fat is left behind. The end product contains no lactose making is safe for most to consume.
8. Deeply Moisturizes Dry Skin
If you are suffering from the driest, flakiest skin? Grab a jar of desi ghee because it is very moisturizing! It sinks right into the skin and its fats provide a protective coating that heal dry skin, protect it from rigid wind/cold and prevent dehydration of its outer layer. You can apply desi ghee directly onto your skin as a nourishing & moisturizing face mask if your skin is dry, tight and painful. To mask its scent to suit your skin better, add a few drops of your favorite essential oil like rose or lavender. Remember, for every tablespoon of essential oil, you only need to add 3-6 drops of essential oil – don’t go above that ratio.
9. Ghee and Insulin Resistance
Consumption of pure grass-fed ghee supports natural insulin release in our body, which helps in diabetes maintenance. In such cases the consumption of pure cow ghee and diabetes management becomes relevant.
Pure cow ghee consists of healthy fats, and when a few teaspoons of ghee is consumed along with the diet which works out as a filler food. Also, ghee added in coffee stops hunger pang and limits calorie intake. Restriction in calorie consumption is a healthy process of diabetes management; therefore, ghee and diabetes are somehow positively related.
A pure quality cow ghee which is obtained from grass fed cows can support you in diabetes management with some further health perks like a healthy gut, brightens skin, strong bones, healthy hairs, good eyesight, etc. Intake of minimal amounts of ghee in the diet aids to decrease all the adverse effects of this lifestyle disease. In such a way, ghee and diabetes management are somehow related. But still it is only pure Grass-fed ghee that can offer you all these health benefits and nutrition.
10. Ghee controls Blood Sugar Levels
Foods that could cause a spike in the sugars levels can now be controlled by adding ghee to the diet. The properties of ghee consist of vitamin K, which, along with other fatty acids, benefits in promoting better absorption power of the body. Hence, ghee also enhances better metabolic reactions to sugars which supports in managing blood glucose levels at a healthy level.
11. Ghee Keeps You Warm Internally
Along with the several health benefits, ghee also has the capacity to keep the body warm from within. One of the unique properties of having a soothing and warming effect on the body when consumed regularly.
Ghee also consists of a high concentration of essential fats, including butyric acid, which possesses anti-inflammatory and digestive advantages. A person’s body simply metabolizes these lipids leading to a consistent source of energy.
12. The relationship between ghee and cholesterol
Ghee is quite a wondrous fat, that actually improves the ratio of HDL (high-density lipoprotein, or “good” cholesterol) to LDL (low-density lipoprotein, or “bad” cholesterol) in your body. When you consume desi ghee, in moderation, of course, you increase your body’s ability to get rid of the bad cholesterol. It’s no surprise that desi cow ghee is considered as the healthiest fat for consumption even in Ayurveda. Ayurvedic experts always recommend desi cow ghee as it is said to increase the Agni (digestive capabilities) and nourish the Ojas (vigor). Ghee also lubricates the connectives tissues in the body, which strengthen all organs especially the nervous system. This is the reason that ghee is also used as a part of Ayurvedic medicine. It ensures proper absorption of medicinal herbs by the body. The effects are any day better for your body than popping an allopathic tablet which may or may not get fully absorbed by your body.
13. It’s delicious
How could we leave this fact out? It’s going to be hard to believe that some people have never tasted the goodness of desi ghee. They are surely missing out on something. The lingering nutty flavour of desi ghee is what makes Indian sweets so hard to resist even more than the level of sugar in them.
Desi ghee spread over a warm paratha or in a bowl of khichdi also makes for the ultimate comfort food. I can go on and on about this creamy ingredient, with a light sweet flavour. Go ahead and add a tsp full to your meal today. Now you know that you don’t have to worry, but just enjoy the deliciousness knowing that you are doing your body a favour.
How to store desi ghee: Desi Ghee does not need refrigeration, it could be stored in a clean airtight jar at room temperature for weeks. Beyond that, the open jar can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 year.
Naveen m...