Do you always make a face when your mom makes parathas using desi ghee? Can’t you, like many others, stand the smell of desi ghee? Well, once you learn the various desi ghee benefits, your frown will turn upside down. Desi ghee has for a long time been a staple in Pakistani cuisine. Our grandmothers and their mothers have set the traditions of making it at home. Many delicious recipes include desi ghee such as saag, palak paneer, sooji halwa etc.
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What Is Desi Ghee?
Desi ghee is a type of clarified butter made by heating butter. Once the butter is heated, we separate the liquid and milk parts from the fat. The milk caramelises and solidifies, and the remaining oil becomes ghee. In the past, people made ghee to keep the butter from spoiling in hot weather. Because we remove the milk solids to form ghee, we don’t need to refrigerate it. Desi ghee can be stored at room temperature for several weeks. When kept at cold temperatures, it will, like coconut oil, solidify. Desi ghee is widely used for cooking in many villages, even today.
Yet, in our present society, oils and butter have taken over the use of desi ghee. We prefer to cook our food in banaspati ghee, cooking oil or butter. Using these fat sources instead of desi has led to detrimental effects on our health. Banaspati ghee is as bad as poison. It leads to hardening of arteries and stroke. In contrast, desi ghee benefits are numerous. It improves your heart health, promotes weight management and provides many other benefits.
Desi Ghee Benefits
Once you learn the various desi ghee benefits, there is no going back. Following are some of them:
1. Desi Ghee Benefits For Skin
We all have 99 problems, and skin problems are one of them. Dry, flaky skin and chapped lips are a menace. But don’t worry, desi ghee has got you covered. It nourishes your skin from the inside due to its high nutrient content. You can also apply it to the skin directly. Just a little dab on your lips will get rid of the chafing. Mixing desi ghee with gram flour and water makes the ultimate mask for your flaky skin. Apply a small amount over your face and leave it for 15 minutes. Wash it off with cold water and say bye-bye to dull skin!
Read more ways to make your skin better here
2. Desi Ghee Benefits For Hair
Desi ghee contains Vitamin E, a natural antioxidant. A study revealed that if you apply it to your hair, it locks in the moisture and conditions the scalp. Once you wash it off, your hair becomes soft and shiny like never before. Eating desi ghee in your diet will also help to strengthen the hair follicles and promote hair growth.
3. Desi Ghee Benefits In Pregnancy
Pregnancy is the most critical yet stressful time for the female body. All the nutrients are vital, and healthy food choices are a must. But, many women avoid eating desi ghee, fearing that they will gain weight. Mothers and grandmothers, on the other hand, encourage its use, especially in the form of panjeeri.
Incorporating desi ghee in your diet can lead to a healthy pregnancy. This vitamin-rich elixir helps to boost immunity, flush out toxins and also repair the damaged tissues. Many female celebrities swear by the power of desi ghee. They add a teaspoon of it to their daily pregnancy meals.
Learn more about healthy foods for pregnancy here
4. Desi Ghee Benefits In Weight Loss
We label desi ghee as saturated fat. But, the saturated fat in desi ghee is not the regular fat. It has short-chained fatty acids (SCFAs). A study shows that our bodies need these fatty acids to burn stubborn fat. In her book ‘Don’t Lose Your Mind, Lose Your Weight’, celebrity nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar says that these short-chain fatty acids are vital to remove stubborn fat by regulating your metabolism. So, instead of cooking your food in banaspati ghee or cooking oil, try opting for desi ghee to shed some pounds.
5. Desi Ghee Benefits For Constipation
Desi ghee helps relieve constipation. It acts as a natural laxative. Due to its oily characteristics, it helps to lubricate the digestive tract and enables the stool to pass out. Taking a teaspoon of ghee in milk at night is an effective way to relieve constipation.
6. Desi Ghee Benefits For Heart Health
The omega-3 in desi ghee promotes heart health and maintains a healthy cardiovascular system. The monounsaturated omega-3 also lowers cholesterol. This helps to reduce the risk of heart-related diseases such as atherosclerosis. You should consult with best cardiologist in Karachi if you have any health related issues.
Read more about how you can keep your heart healthy here
7. Desi Ghee Benefits For Cooking
Desi ghee has a high heating point, which means it does not burn quickly, whereas other oils may degrade and release free radicals when heated to high temperatures. Free radicals are unstable molecules that can harm your body cells and increase your risk of disease. Furthermore, as Pakistani cooking requires a lot of sautéing, it is preferable to use desi ghee, which does not easily break down.
8. Desi Ghee Benefits For Hormone Balance
Our body’s fat content is primarily saturated fat, with only three percent coming from other types. This ratio is critical for our overall health and well-being. This golden elixir contains Vitamin K, which helps to build hormones. It also contains Vitamins A, D, E, and K.
9. Desi Ghee Benefits For Bone Development
As desi ghee contains the fat-soluble vitamin D, it, therefore, helps in bone development. It makes our bones strong. So now you understand why we were fed desi ghee in our childhood in the form of meetha parathas.
10. Desi Ghee Benefits For Immunity
Desi ghee acts as a potent antiviral and antimicrobial agent. It boosts immune function due to its high nutrient and vitamin content as revealed in many studies. It is recommended to give children desi ghee during their childhood to boost their metabolism.
Possible Desi Ghee Side Effects
People who have high cholesterol levels should abstain from using too much desi ghee. The high-fat content may cause a rise in cholesterol profile. Limit consumption to half to one teaspoon per day.
Desi ghee is a natural food that has been used for medicinal and culinary purposes for centuries. If you are lactose intolerant or cook at high temperatures, ghee is the better option. It is sold in supermarkets, health food stores, organic farms, and online. You can also make your own!
FAQ’s
1. How to make desi ghee at home?
Heat butter until layers of fat and milk solids separate. Then remove the milk solids and use the fat as desi ghee.
2. Why does desi ghee smell bad?
If kept at high temperatures for long time, desi ghee may turn rancid. Thereby giving off a bad odor. Try to refrigerate it after opening.
3. How many calories are in one teaspoon of ghee?
One teaspoon of desi ghee contains 42 to 45 calories and 5 grams of fat.
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