When most people think of ghee, or clarified butter, they don’t often associate that with something healthy. However, ghee is actually a super-food and something you should be including in your diet every day.
Ghee is made by boiling butter very slowly over a low heat, which separates all of the milk solids and buttermilk from the butter oil. The remainder is strained out so all that is left is pure butter oil (which doesn’t actually need to be kept in the fridge).
While followers of Ayurveda have known about the benefits of ghee for thousands of years, now it’s the latest trend with A-listers and socialites like Kourtney Kardashian, tweeting that she has ghee first thing in the morning.
The Health Benefits of Ghee
So why is ghee so good for you? The main benefit of ghee is that it kindles agni and increases the body’s natural digestive fire. It’s also full of sweet and cool qualities. This helps increase the body’s ability to digest food and also improves how well we absorb and assimilate it.
Ghee is the nectar of life, it nourishes our immune system and represents (ojas), our life force (prana), and all of our seven tissues (dhatus) as well as mobilising nutrients throughout the body. Eating ghee not only increases intelligence and improves memory but it lubricates the organs and connective tissues, increasing flexibility in the body. It also slows ageing increases longevity, improves the lustre of hair and heals wounds.
Reduce Bad Cholesterol with Ghee
If you need another few reasons, while ghee is 65 percent saturated fat, it actually reduces LDL, or the bad cholesterol.
By incorporating ghee into your cooking, you can lower the glycemic index of your meals. This can be beneficial since a lower glycemic index results in slower energy release into the bloodstream, reducing the risk of blood sugar spikes throughout the day.
Ghee also stays in its liquid form and can be used to move cholesterol, and when a detoxing can be effective in carrying herbs through to the tissues.
Cooking with Ghee
Another reason ghee is so good is because of its high smoke boiling point – it doesn’t go rancid or become broken down to form free radicals in the cooking process. The reason for this is because it’s pure butterfat – the natural fat found in milk, butter and other dairy products. Ghee’s boiling point is 232 degrees while butter and coconut oil are at 176 degrees.
How much ghee you should be eating is dependent on your specific body type. A good starting point is one teaspoon a day, used in cooking, as it will lubricate joints, prevent reflux and bloating, improve colon issues and help you to have a good night’s sleep - all particularly effective when you’re on a detox.
In case you're having trouble sleeping, try one teaspoon of ghee boiled in milk (just before bed). Ghee also helps with constipation – one teaspoon in hot water, also just before bed.
Include ghee in your diet and enjoy its many health benefits.