Ghee, the permanent staple of Indian kitchens, has always had a love-hate relationship with health discussions. We often hear that the saturated fats in ghee are bad for our hearts. But our grandmother insists that ghee has secret healing powers. With so much contradictory information coming our way, we don’t know how exactly to feel about this desi superfood.
Let’s finally get to the bottom of this ghee mystery and figure out what the science actually says about our Dadi’s “darling” ingredient.
What is Ghee?
Ghee, the secret sidekick of every paratha, is made by gently heating regular butter. When the water bubbles go away and the milk solids in the butter settle down, what remains is ghee.
What We Think About Ghee: Vs What Science Thinks About It
Myth 1: Ghee Increases LDL (Bad Cholesterol)
The Reality: In the 1950s and 60s, scientists used to believe that any kind of saturated fat caused heart diseases. But recent studies show ghee was never the Gabbar Singh for your heart health like you thought it was. Yes, it does have saturated fats, but moderate consumption will not increase your LDL if you are otherwise healthy.
This is because ghee’s natural fats are broken down by the liver into quick, steady fuel, so you get sustainable energy throughout the day.
If you are really conscious about your heart health, you should also consider doing yoga online, even if it’s from your bedroom. Many people in Hyderabad are already signing up for Online Yoga Classes Hyderabad offers, as they teach people how to combine yoga with balanced eating habits.
Myth 2: Ghee Makes You Gain Inches on Your Waist.
The Reality: The golden ingredient has certain fatty acids that are digested quickly and converted into energy faster than saturated fats that we find in processed foods. This stabilises our blood sugar and sends signals to the brain that our stomach is full. And we don’t feel the urge to eat for a long time. Since we don’t overeat, we naturally take in lesser calories, which helps prevent unwanted weight gain.
Weight gain comes from excess calories overall, not just from that one spoon of ghee you love to apply to your roti. We often fall for quick weight-loss programs available on the internet , but they actually make us unhealthy. Instead, practicing Yoga Online or even offline helps us lose weight gradually, and improves our metabolism.
Myth 3: Ghee Gives Us Tummy Troubles
The Reality: Ayurveda calls it a “medhya” fat that supports both digestion and nutrient absorption. It has butyric acid, which helps our intestinal walls by repairing them and improving our digestion. With better digestion, our nutrient absorption improves, and so does overall digestive health.
Myth 4: Ghee Has No Nutritional Value
The Reality: We almost never think of this desi superstar ingredient as a nutritional powerhouse because of its saturated fats. But it does contain vitamins like A, D, E, and K, which are necessary for vision, immunity, bone health, and skin.
On top of that, it has CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) CLA which activates enzymes that increase the breakdown of stored fat in our body. Hence, our body can use this fat into usable energy more easily.
Myth 5: Ghee Should be Kept Out of Reach of Kids
The Reality: Ghee has vitamins like A, D, E, and K. This helps brain development, which is a major requirement in children between the ages of 2 and 10, when their cognitive skills just start developing. In Ayurveda, ghee is often recommended for children to strengthen digestion, immunity, and even memory.
Conclusion
According to Ayurveda, ghee is considered a ‘sattvic’ food, meaning it promotes purity of mind and body. It helps to balance the doshas (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha), enhance digestion, and nourish the body’s tissues.Besides ghee, Ayurveda also emphasizes the value of yoga to complement your sattvic diet.
Famous for its irresistible biryani, Hyderabad is now serving up a healthier trend as well , a steady rise in online yoga classes Hyderabad natives are embracing to balance their love for biriyani with better digestion and lasting energy.
Ghee is the most misunderstood staple that we have in our kitchen. Incorporating ghee mindfully into your diet, along with little movement like regular yoga practice, can give you the freedom to pursue your dreams, not the whims of your illnesses.
