13 Amazing Reasons to Use Ghee

Ghee, a clarified butter that is commonly found in southeastern Asian cuisine, has gotten a bad wrap due to its high fat content. But in reality, just like olive oil, cheese, and avocados, cooking and flavoring food with ghee in moderation can actually provide health benefits. Ghee isn’t something artificial or processed like foods made in a lab; in fact, our ancestors began using it more than 3,000 years ago because they appreciated the real value of this rich and delicious food enhancer. Check out these 13 reasons why you should add ghee to your own cooking!

1. Has Healthy Fats

Research has found that a diet containing healthy unsaturated fats is important for maintaining proper organ function. This isn’t to say you should grab a big ol’ ice cream scooper and go to town on this stuff, but adding a teaspoon of ghee to vegetables or beans is a perfectly fine idea. 

2. Helps Digestive System

Back in the day, our ancestors were known to consume a small spoonful of ghee before every meal in order to aid with digestion. They might not have been as simple as we thought, eh? Ghee has even been proven to reduce the risk of developing ulcers. 

3. Strengthens the Immune System

Ghee contains antioxidants that can help you sustain a healthy immune system, fight disease, and keep you feeling young thanks to its anti-aging properties.

4. Contains Essential Vitamins

Ghee contains a small amount of vitamins A, E, and K. Granted, the amount of ghee you would need to eat in order to get your daily dose of vitamins is pretty high, so by no means are we suggesting you ditch the fruits and vegetables. 

5. Lactose Intolerant? No problem!

Unlike other dairy products such as milk and standard butter, ghee is lactose-free. This means if you’re somebody who has a difficult time digesting lactose, ghee is a perfect alternative when you need your fill of something buttery. 

6. Keeps Skin Looking Healthy

Thanks to its antioxidants, fatty acids, and natural emollient, ghee has traditionally been used as a way to maintain healthy, glowing skin. It keeps the skin soft, repairs it, and treats cracks. 

7. Promotes weight loss

It might seem counterintuitive that a food that is pure fat would help you lose weight, but it is 100% true! The body needs fat in order to feel full and satisfied, which in turn means you aren’t running to the refrigerator every 30 minutes to have yourself a snack. 

8. Helps absorb calcium

Thanks to the aforementioned Vitamin K, consuming small quantities of ghee can help you stave off osteoporosis as you age because it absorbs calcium, which is key to maintaining strong bones. Likewise, your teeth will also appreciate the boost of Vitamin K. 

9. Regulates the thyroid

A diet that includes ghee can be beneficial in helping you balance your hormones, which is especially important when it comes to your thyroids. 

10. Benefits the Cardiovascular System

Ghee is high in monounsaturated Omega-3s, fatty acids that are essential for keeping your ticker functioning properly. In addition, ghee can help raise “good” cholesterol while keeping triglycerides (the “bad” type of cholesterol) at bay. 

11. A High Smoke Point

Cooking with certain oils and fats increases the risk of developing cancer due to the fact that at high temperatures they become oxidized, which creates free radicals. On the other hand, because ghee has a very high smoke point, it is a great solution when you want to cook your foods without worrying about these dangerous threats to your health. 

12. Makes Everything Taste Better

Whether you add a little bit of ghee to rice, fish, sauces, or bread, you will quickly discover just how much better these foods taste. Not a fan of whole grains? Since you need to include them in your diet every day, just use some ghee, and you’ll be looking forward to it at meal time! 

13. Positive Food

Ghee simply does so much good. It removes toxic elements from the body, is a highly sattvic food (something you Yoga lovers will appreciate), and when part of a balanced diet it can help reduce stress levels and keep you feeling happy.