6 Health Benefits of Ghee & How to Make Ghee at Home

Ghee is a healthy source of saturated fats that can deliver many vitamins, minerals, and nutrients to the body.

A kind of clarified butter, ghee is made by simmering butter until it reaches a high temperature of around 485°F. At this temperature, milk solids and water get separated leaving behind a light-colored liquid called ghee.

Traditional to India and a staple across Indian, Southeast Asian, and Middle Eastern cuisines, the health benefits of ghee, its aromatic flavor and slightly nutty taste has turned this ingredient into a fan favorite across many households worldwide. 

Table of Contents

• Is Ghee Good for your Health?
• 6 Health Benefits of Ghee You Should Know About
• How to make ghee at home – Recipe
• Summary

Is Ghee Good for your Health?

Ghee is a source of saturated fats. And the role, saturated fats have to play when it comes to cardiovascular diseases is a continuing topic of debate among health experts. However, the human body cannot function without any saturated fats either. 

While an excessive amount of saturated fats is unhealthy, it is essential in limited quantities. Saturated fats and proper brain functioning are closely related. So while ghee does contain saturated fats, using a limited amount of ghee can both enhance the flavor of the food and deliver essential fats to the body. 

What this shows is that most normal people will experience, little to no health problems from consuming ghee. However, this may not hold for people who are already predisposed to certain hereditary diseases like heart diseases. This predisposition can result from genetic factors or other factors. 

6 Health Benefits of Ghee You Should Know About

Ghee is not just an ingredient used in cooking, but a part of India’s heritage in traditional medicine – the Ayurvedic tradition of healing. In ancient times, ghee was considered to be food sacred to the Gods. And this was how ghee started finding use in everything from lighting lamps, to being used in religious rituals, to being consumed as a health supplement. 

As it turns out, ghee has a lot to offer healthwise:

#1 Positively affects the nervous system

Ghee positively affects not just the central nervous system in the brain, but also the enteric nervous system in the gut.

Ghee contains many vitamins and minerals that regulate and repair the gut lining which in turn is important for brain health as well. 

#2 Rich source of Butyric acid

Ghee is a rich source of butyric acid. Butyric acid is a kind of short-chain fatty acid that improves and supports probiotic bacteria that is present in the stomach. Ghee also has additional benefits, such as balancing the amount of hydrochloric acid present in the stomach and assisting the production of bile in the liver. 

#3 Rich in Omega 3 fatty acids

These are also known as essential fatty acids that the body cannot make and need to be supplied through food.

Ghee is rich in DHA, a type of omega 3 fatty acid, which has been linked to brain development, reducing inflammation, slowing down the aging process, and many more functions. 

 #4 Important source of fat-soluble Vitamins

Ghee is a rich source of important fat-soluble vitamins like vitamins A, E, K2, and D.

The body absorbs fat-soluble vitamins best when a person eats them with higher-fat foods like ghee. These vitamins have many functions like improving immunity, good vision, and good antioxidant effects.

#5 Conjugated linoleic acid

Also known as CLA, this acid is known for its ability to reduce tumors in the body, lower the amount of blood cholesterol, and improve and stabilize blood pressure. Ghee is a good source of CLA. 

#6 Powerful antioxidant abilities

The presence of vitamin E provides ghee with powerful antioxidant abilities.

Ghee is also known to be good for the skin, as well as the hair. People don’t just consume ghee, but use it to make homemade face masks, hair masks, and more. As ghee retains its structural integrity at very high cooking temperatures, it becomes a great ingredient to be used in dishes that involve frying, sauteing, and other techniques that involve cooking on high heat.

Ghee is both a popular source of essential nutrients, as well as an important flavoring ingredient in many contemporary dishes. Popular dieting programs, like the Keto diet, among others, have already led many people towards this delicious ingredient. 

How to make ghee at home – Recipe

Ghee can be expensive to buy, but it can be made at home easily by following a few simple steps. 

• Preparation Time: 10 minutes 
• Cooking Time: 15 mins approximately

Ingredients: 

• Butter – 250g
• A saucepan
• A strainer
• Cheesecloths 

Method:

• Cut the butter into equal cubes. 
• Place them into the saucepan. 
• Heat the butter on medium heat until the butter melts. 
• Bring the pan to a simmer and allow the butter to reduce for fifteen minutes maximum.
• Watch out for foaming during this time. 
• When the contents of the pan foam for a second time, turn off the heat. 
• Leave to rest for 3 minutes. 
• Strain the contents through a wire mesh lined with cheesecloth. 

The golden yellow liquid you get is ghee. 

Summary

Ghee is an important source of essential nutrients, fat-soluble vitamins, and good saturated fats. Ghee has also been linked to fat loss, so anyone looking to maintain a healthy diet without losing out on important fats should turn to ghee.