There has been more attention paid to Ghee and its health benefits over the last few years. Ghee is a type of clarified butter that originated in ancient India and is used today in Southeast Asian cooking, traditional medicine, and even in religious rituals.
To make ghee, good quality butter is melted and cooked over medium heat until all of the milk proteins (lactose and casein) have risen to the top and are skimmed off. When the ghee is clear, it is strained and stored in a glass jar. Thus, ghee can be eaten and used by even those with dairy intolerances since the milk proteins have been removed from the butter. You can make your own ghee or purchase it at a good Southeast Asian market or a health food store. More regular grocery stores are carrying it as well.
But why use ghee since it is a saturated fat? Vegetable and seed oils, which are polyunsaturated fats, can create dangerous free radicals and peroxides when heated to high temperatures for cooking. Ghee, on the other hand, has a very high smoke point and doesn't burn easily. Whereas ghee also has saturated bonds but these are stable in nature. Hence, these do not form free radicals at the time of cooking. Ghee also contains fatty acids which can be metabolized easily by the body.
Apart from having a high smoke point, ghee has many other health benefits:
Reduces cholesterol in the serum and the intestines: Attributed to the high level of palmitic acid in ghee which aid in the secretion of biliary lipids
Aids in digestion and weight loss: Ghee is rich in butyric acid and as per the author of Prescription of Nutrional Healing, butyric acid is “a monounsaturated fatty acid that reduces inflammatory conditions, reduces seepage of undigested food particles, and aids in repair of the mucosal wall.”
Reduces the risk of heart disease: Attributed to the presence of conjugated linoleic acid present in ghee
Amazing for the skin: Ghee penetrates deep into the skin and acts as a natural moisturizer. It is used to heal scars, dark spots, dry skin, etc.
Controls pressure in the eyes to aid glaucoma patients
While ghee has been used in Indian cooking since ancient times, it can be used in a wide variety of preparations. It has a mild flavor and is suitable for all types of cooking. One can also add ghee to beverages and juices to make them even more delicious and healthy.
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