When butter is cooked long enough for the water in the butter to completely evaporate and for the milk solids to brown and produce a nutty flavor, you get a butter product called ghee. Ghee has a long history in Indian culture-and many other parts of the world for its use not only in meal preparation, but in holistic remedies as well.
Ghee may be composed primarily of fats, but it also contains significant levels of vitamin A, vitamin E, and vitamin D. Although many people think of fats as unhealthy elements of your diet, the body also needs fat to function. Omega-3s (monounsaturated fats) are healthy forms of fat that can be found in ghee, in addition to other fatty acids like conjugated linoleic acid and butyric acid, both of which have positive health benefits in the body, according to organicfacts.net.
Health Benefits of Ghee
Antioxidant Activity
The health benefits of vitamin A are widely publicized and the power of carotenoids in terms of eliminating free radicals in the body are extremely valuable. When you add the antioxidant capacity of conjugated linoleic acid and butyric acid to the power of vitamin A contained in ghee, you have a powerful anti-cancer substance that could help reduce oxidative stress throughout the body.
Eye Health
The significant levels of vitamin A in ghee make it ideal for protecting eye health. Carotenoidsare antioxidants that specialize in eliminating and neutralizing the free radicals that attack the macular cells, thereby preventing macular degeneration and the development of cataracts.
Healthy Digestive Tract
Ghee converts fiber into butyric acid, which is beneficial to intestinal bacteria. It also helps to increase appetite, fostering better health and weight loss.
Lowers Cholesterol
Studies have shown that ghee can reduce cholesterol both in the serum and intestine. According to the Times of India, it does this by triggering an increased secretion of biliary lipids.
Allergy Issues
Since ghee is dairy-free lactose intolerant individuals or those who cannot consume butter are free to enjoy the flavorful treat of "butter" in the form of ghee without worrying about the gastrointestinal problems that normally follow.
Heart Health
Although most people associate butter with fat and a decline in heart health, the rich variety of fats in ghee can also provide a healthy boost to the heart. Omega-3 fatty acids can help decrease your levels of unhealthy cholesterol and provide an energetic balance to your fat intake.
Promotes Flexibility
According to Dr. Vasant Lad, director of the Ayurvedic Institute in Albuquerque, N.M., ghee helps to lubricate the connective tissue and promote flexibility. This is why many yoga aficionados and practitioners consumer this type of butter.
Immune System Booster
Butyric acid, perhaps the most important element in ghee, has also been linked to the stimulation of T-cell production, which are the heavy-hitting cells of the immune system. In other words, ghee can supercharge your immune system in addition to all of its other health benefits.