Ghee, commonly referred to as clarified butter, has been traditionally used as an important ingredient in a majority of Indian foods and also as a vehicle for herbal medications, for thousands of years now.  

It is known to be healthy and can either be used as a replacement for oil while cooking dal, sauteed vegetables, curries, etc., or can be just added to boiled rice, chapatis, parathas, and delicacies like halwa or poori to enhance the aroma and flavour.

Why Should You Add Ghee to Your Diet?

  • Healthy Fats: Ghee contains more short-chain fatty acids which are easily assimilated, absorbed and metabolized to provide energy.

  • Good Cholesterol: It also contains a higher quantity of monounsaturated fatty acids (MFA) which is more desirable due to its role in the reduction of bad cholesterol in the body.

  • Essential Vitamins: Ghee is rich in fat-soluble vitamins (such as A, D, E, and K), water-soluble vitamins (such as riboflavin), and minerals (such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium).

  • Essential Amino-Acids: Ghee is rich in omega-3 and 6 fatty acids, which play a role in cutting down the size of fat cells and promoting lean body mass.

  • Good For Lactose Intolerance: Ghee is better tolerated in people with dairy sensitivity or lactose intolerance as it is very low in casein (a milk protein).

  • Tackles Menstrual Problems: Ghee is shown to have an effect on hormonal balance in the body which helps treat PMS (premenstrual syndrome), cramps, and menstrual irregularities in women.

  • Anti-Cancer Effects: Cow ghee is rich in CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid), which is known to potentially fight cancer. 

  • Alternative Medicine: Ayurveda also lays great emphasis on the healing properties of ghee. It is considered a wonderful remedy for treating burns, wounds, acne, chickenpox scars, etc. 

  • No Release of Free Radicals: Since ghee has a higher smoke point of around 250 degrees Celsius, it tends to stay in its original form even at higher cooking temperatures, thereby making it an ideal replacement to vegetable oil or butter.

Portion Control

Just like the phrase – "All good things remain good only when done to a certain extent", consuming high amounts of cow ghee can be risky. 

It is essential to not replace the coveted cow ghee with oils such as sunflower, sesame, soybean, olive, etc., but practice discretion in order to minimize harmful effects and maximize the health benefits. 

More Interesting Facts

  • Studies suggest that consuming a diet with up to 10% ghee in it did not increase the risk of heart disease, but for those with predisposing factors such as genetics, obesity, etc., 10% may prove to be harmful.

  • Cow ghee is much healthier as compared to any other type of ghee as it has fewer calories than buffalo ghee.

  • Ghee can help ramp up your intake of vitamin A, which is important for maintaining eye and skin health, immune function, and much more.


Disclaimer: The content (video/text) presented on this page should not be considered as a substitute for medical expertise. Please "DO NOT SELF-MEDICATE" and seek professional help regarding any health conditions or concerns. Practo will not be responsible for any act or omission arising from the interpretation of the content present on this page.