Some Ghee Please!! An ancient golden superfood

There is a lot of buzz today about whether to eat or not to eat ghee. There is a set of articles which say ghee is good whereas some say its consumption can lead to several degenerative disorders. It is, therefore, important to understand what exactly is ghee, its benefits, and its correct portion size.

What is ghee?

Ghee, is known as a clarified type of butter, which is nothing but a form of butter, simmered into a concentrate minus the residue which increases its shelf life to a number of days even months without any refrigeration. It has been used in Ayurveda as a therapeutic agent (golden superfood) for thousands of years and as an alternative to regular cooking oil in a number of Indian households. In the last several years, ghee has been implicated to be a cause of coronary heart disease (CHD) due to its high content of saturated fats and cholesterol, but if consumed in moderation and correct portion size it can provide your body with a high concentration of vitamins and cure several gastric disorders.

Let’s see what all this ancient golden superfood can do for you

1. Rich in vitamins

Ghee is rich in fat soluble vitamins like vitamin A, D, E and K. These vitamins play an important role in bone growth, tooth development, cellular growth, wound healing and the regular functioning of the immune system. It also has loads of dietary fats which help in the absorption of these vitamins.

2. Aids digestion and maintains a healthy gut

Ghee is a great source of butyric acid which has numerous healing and soothing properties of the intestinal tract. This acid helps to lower the inflammation to improve the process of digestion. Ghee also stimulates the acid secretion in the stomach which helps in a better digestion and also relieves constipation.

1. Works as an energy booster

1 tablespoon (15 grams) of ghee provides 120 calories, all of which comes from fat. It is rich in medium chain fatty acids which are directly absorbed by the liver and burnt as energy. Athletes or other people with physically active lifestyles can consume ghee to get that extra boost of energy.

2. Helps in weight managementGhee contains conjugated linolenic acid, a type of omega-6 fatty acid which plays a key role in increasing lean body mass while reducing the fat mass. It also helps to aid various digestive disorders like constipation which in turn helps in effective weight management along with a substantial amount of physical activity.

   What is meant by portion size and moderation?

   As the phrase goes “Excess of anything is bad”, is highly applicable to the consumption of ghee. Especially today since it is one of the most talked about topics. One must remember that the ideal fat intake for an individual is 10-15 grams per day, which varies according to the level of activity done throughout the day. Therefore, according to me, a healthy individual can consume up to 1-2 teaspoons (5g-10g) of ghee in a day.

    

   About Monicca Sharrma,

   Monicca, is a medical nutritionist and a wellness coach, working with Healthifyme and Medanta hospital. She is a Double M.Sc. in nutrition from University of Delhi and King’s College London. Through her vast academic background, she believes that one should indulge in everything but in moderation. Change does not simply happen by restricting oneself from everything but by tweaking the lifestyle and following a customized diet plan. She does not believe in the concept of FAD, magical or starvation diets as they lead to a greater health loss than weight loss.