Many of us have a common belief that if we are planning to lose weight we should reduce or completely remove ghee and other fatty foods from our diet. Ghee for weight loss is considered unhealthy.

We think that we already have so much fat in our body, why to increase the amount. This attitude is a result of the fears and fads that we have bought from the west.

Recent scientific researches have proved that Ghee or Clarified butter works wonders for us. It is no hurdle in our weight loss regime instead, it is weight-loss-friendly food.

This post is written for explaining the how part. After reading it you will definitely wonder how beautifully this ancient food preserves our health (1)(2)(3).

What is Ghee and How to Make It?

Ghee is the Fat content of milk which is rendered from butter. It is done to separate milk solids and water from Butterfat. Homemade Ghee is best because you are sure about the source of milk and there is no adulteration(4).

Ghee for weight loss

How to make Ghee at Home?

1. Collect the cream of milk every day for about 15 days to 1 month and freeze it.
2. When around a kilo cream is collected bring the cream to room temperature and churn it till the whey is separated and turned into butter.
3. Heat the white butter on a low flame.
4. Once you see the base of the vessel turning brown, add a pinch of salt as per taste.
5. Once ghee comes to boil, switch off the gas and let it cool for some time.
6. When the ghee is still in liquid form Strain it and your homemade Ghee is ready.
7. If possible make sure that the milk you use is pure (extracted from a grass-fed cow) and from a clean dairy farm. It is the best ghee for weight loss.

Difference Between Ghee and Butter and How Much Ghee Should You Eat?

The basic difference between ghee and butter is that butter is oil in water emulsion whereas Ghee has only milk Fat in it. Addition of Ghee provides essential fats in our diet (5)(6)(7).

The quantity at which the taste of food is best is the right quantity. For example, Indian preparations like Puranpoli needs more ghee than dal-chawal. 3-5 tsp a day is a good start.

More than 3-5 tsp of ghee can cause weight gain if proper exercise routine is not followed. Ghee for weight loss should be consumed in low to medium quantities.

Nutritional Facts about Ghee

Ghee comprises short, medium and long-chain fatty acids, which means it contains saturated and unsaturated fats.

Ghee, when prepared from cow’s milk has the highest natural source of conjugated linoleic acid. It is the best ghee for weight loss.

Ghee also contains essential vitamin E, A, and K. It has Omega-3, Omega-6, and Omega-9 Fatty acids (8).

How Ghee Supports in Weight Loss?

The Omega-3 and Omega-6 present in ghee Fatty acids which is helpful in losing weight. Also, Omega-9 helps in increasing the lean(muscle mass) body mass of our body.

Ghee helps in mobility of fat cells for burning it into energy (9)(10). It ensures the better assimilation of fat-soluble vitamins and is well known to reduce the Glycemic Index of the entire meal.

Ghee is the most potent antioxidant on earth because of its high smoke point. It is one of the best foods for weight loss.

Here is an informative video from Rujuta Diwekar, the famous celebrity nutritionist on how Ghee can help you lose weight.

Miraculous Benefits of Ghee

1. Boosts Immunity

The Fat-soluble vitamins present in ghee helps in boosting immunity. Vitamin D, A, K, and E are well known to boost immunity.

2. Helps in treating Cancer

Antioxidants present in Ghee helps in the treatment of cancer. Ghee has a high smoke point, which means it retains its structural integrity even at high temperatures.

Most of the oils break down into unstable elements called free radicals at high temperatures. But ghee is extremely healthy and can be used repeatedly even for deep frying I never knew it was so healthy.

3. Reduces Inflammation

Butyric acid present in ghee helps in reding inflammation, particularly in the gastrointestinal tract. Ghee also has anti-viral properties which help to repair the stomach lining.

4. Improves Digestion

In Ayurveda, people who have just recovered from diarrhea are fed with loads and loads of ghee to help repair the stomach lining. It helps the stomach lining grow faster and reduces the overall glycemic load of the food resulting in good digestion.

5. Gives Healthy Skin and Eyes

Vitamin A and E present in Ghee make it a very healthy food for skin and eyes. Apart from consumption, application of ghee is also very beneficial for glowing skin and strong hair. Application of ghee on the skin provides nutrition to different layers of the skin. Fat-soluble vitamins like vitamin A, D, E and K are absorbed by the skin and hair. This makes the skin glowing and radiating.

6. Relieves Bloating

Rubbing ghee on your soles before going to sleep can relieve you from bloating and morning farts.

7. Prevents Over-eating

When ghee is added to any meal it reduces its glycemic load, increases taste and aroma, makes us feel fulfilled yet light. In this way, it prevents s from overeating and helps us to eat less.

8. Good for Joints

All the good fats in ghee are good for our joints and also prevents feet swelling caused by sitting for long hours. Ghee helps to reduce knee pain.

9. Removes Bad Odor from the Mouth

Apply ghee before going to bed and after getting up in the morning. It cures the problem of stinking mouth.

10. Cures Hangovers

1 tsp of ghee with rock salt in the morning along with warm water is very helpful in curing hangovers.

11. Reduces Cholesterol

When you see the nutritional facts about Ghee, you find that it is high in cholesterol. So, how can it help in reducing the same? Here is the answer, Ghee lowers cholesterol by increasing the contribution of lipids to metabolism. Our liver produces excess cholesterol under stress. Ghee helps us de-stress.

12. Makes your Heart Healthy

Vitamins, antioxidants and essential fats are just what is needed for a healthy heart and ghee have it all.

13. Friendly for Lactose-Intolerant People

Ghee is made after removing all the milk solids from butter, it can be used by people who are lactose intolerant.

Other Uses of Ghee:

1. Application of Ghee on top of the head with slight massage helps disappear a headache or sinus congestion.
2. Massage Ghee inside your nostrils prevents depression, snoring, and trouble sleeping.
3. Massage Ghee on your Soles to sleep like a baby.
4. Whenever you eat any heavy meal load it with ghee to reduce glycemic index.
5. If you want to enjoy deep-fried food guilt-free, deep fry it with ghee. It prevents polymerization within Fatty acid chain and restricts the harmful effects.

How to Check if your Ghee is Unadulterated?

Many times in modern households there is no time to prepare ghee at home. In such a case, you can buy ghee or clarified butter. But there are many adulterated or low-quality products in the market. Here is how you can check if your ghee is pure.

Ghee can be adulterated by Vanaspati (artificial ghee), vegetable oil or starch.

1. To check if ghee is adulterated with vegetable oil:

Melt one teaspoon of ghee and add a pinch of salt to it. Shake it vigorously and let it rest for some time. If the red color appears at the bottom of the bottle then ghee is adulterated with vegetable oil.

2. To Check if ghee is adulterated with other oils or vanaspati:

Melt a small quantity of ghee and store it in a glass jar. Let it solidify. If there are a presence of separate layers then the ghee is adulterated with other oils or vanaspati.

3. To Check if ghee is adulterated with starch:

Melt 2 teaspoons of ghee in a container and transfer it in a transparent container. Add a few drops of iodine to it. If it turns purple in color then ghee is adulterated with starch.

4. One of the simple tests to check if it is adulterated ghee is to rub a teaspoon of it in your palm. If it starts to melt by itself then the ghee is pure or it is adulterated.

These simple methods will help you to choose the right product for you and your family.