Ghee is a type of clarified butter that has been used for centuries in India to enhance the flavor of food and promote health. It is made by melting butter and straining out the milk solids. It has a nutty, slightly sweet flavor, and can be used in place of butter or oil in many recipes. Ghee is also believed to have many health benefits, including improved digestion, reduced inflammation, and improved skin health. In this post, we’ll explore it’s history and health benefits, as well as some tips on how to use it in your cooking.
Ghee Nutrition Facts and Calories Chart
Ghee is a popular cooking fat in Indian cuisine, but is also gaining popularity in other parts of the world. A great source of nutrition, packed with vitamins A, E, and K, as well as healthy fats and antioxidants. Its high smoke point makes it ideal for cooking and baking, while its creamy texture and nutty flavor make it a delicious addition to any meal. Ghee is also known to aid digestion, boost immunity, and provide anti-inflammatory benefits. Nutritional value per 100 g ghee:
- Biotin: 0mcg
- Calcium: 0mg
- Carbohydrates (Carbs): 0g
- Chloride: 0mg
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Choline: 0mg
- Chromium: 0mcg
- Copper: 0mg
- Dietary Fiber: 0g
- Energy (Calories): 899kcal
- Fat: 99.85g
- Iodine: 0mcg
- Iron: 0mg
- Magnesium: 0mg
- Manganese: 0mg
- Molybdenum: 0mcg
- Pantothenic Acid: 0mg
- Phosphorus: 0mg
- Potassium: 0mg
- Protein: 0g
- Saturated fat: 62.5g
- Selenium: 0mcg
- Sodium: 0mg
- Sugars: 0g
- Vitamin A: 0mcg
- Vitamin B1 (Thiamin): 0mg
- Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin): 0mg
- Vitamin B3 (Niacin): 0mg
- Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid): 0mg
- Vitamin B6: 0mg
- Vitamin B9 (Folate / Folic Acid): 0mcg
- Vitamin B12: 0mcg
- Vitamin C: 0mg
- Vitamin D: 0mcg
- Vitamin E: 0mg
- Vitamin K: 0mcg
- Water: 0g
- Zinc: 0mg
Ghee In India
In Indian Ayurvedic system, ghee is considered to induce several beneficial effects on human health and is used extensively for therapeutic purposes such as in the preparation of a number of formulations for treating skin allergy and respiratory diseases.
- Scientific Binomial:
- Common English: Clarified Butter
- Ayurvedic: Ghrit
- Unani
- Sanskrit: Ghrit
- Hindi / Urdu: Ghi
- Bengali: Ghi
- Marathi: Tup / Tupa
- Telugu: Neyyi
- Tamil: Ney
- Gujarati
- Kannada: Tuppa
- Malayalam: Neyy
- Oriya
- Punjabi / Sindhi
- Assamese
- Kashmiri
- Konkani
- Manipuri
- Dogri
- Bhojpuri
Ghee and Ayurveda
It has been used in Ayurveda for thousands of years. A saturated fat, such a unique structure that actually helps mobilize fats from stubborn fat areas of the body. It is mostly prepared by the traditional method used by Indian households or by the direct creamery method at an industry level. Ayurvedic landmarks suggest that clarified butter made from cow milk is superior. It is one of the four basic elements in Indian cooking. Ghee, the Indian name for clarified butterfat is obtained by heat clarification and desiccation of sour cream, cream, or butter at 105 – 110°C. Heat induced changes in milk proteins/lactose during the clarification process impart a distinctive pleasant cooked flavor to ghee. It is the largest indigenous milk product, with an important place in the Indian dietary scenario.
DIY – How to Make Organic Desi Ghee At Home?
Two pounds of butter will make one quart of ghee. Ghee can be kept on the kitchen shelf. It does not need refrigeration. Its medicinal properties are said to improve with age. Don’t ladle out the ghee with a wet spoon or allow any water to get into the container, as this will create the conditions for bacteria to grow and spoil the ghee.
- Take organic pure sweet and unsalted butter in a heavy, medium-size pot.
- Turn the heat to medium, and heat until the butter melts, taking care not to burn the butter.
- Then turn down the heat, cook until the butter just boils, and continue to cook at this temperature.
- Do not cover the pot, as it is important to boil the water out and separate the solids.
- The butter will foam and sputter for a while and then begin to quiet down.
- Stir it occasionally with a stainless steel spatula, scraping the bottom of the pan.
- In 12 to 15 minutes your ghee will begin to smell like popcorn and will turn a lovely golden color.
- Whitish curds will form and separate from the clear ghee. When these whitish curds turn a light tan color and the boiling quiets down, the ghee is ready.
- Take it o the heat immediately, for it is most likely to burn at this stage.
- The cooking time should not be longer than 15 to 20 minutes, depending on the kind of pan and the heat source.
- Once cool, strain the ghee through tea strainer and store in glass jar with tight lid.
Folk Home Remedies
- Taking 1 or 2 teaspoonfuls of ghee in a cup of hot milk at bedtime is an effective but gentle means of relieving constipation. It is also a wonderful combination for gentle, mild laxative action during pregnancy.
- For bursitis, the application of warm ghee nose drops to the nostrils will help to relieve the pain. Nasya opens up the flow of “prana” and helps the prana to ow freely through the connective tissue of the joint, which will alleviate pain.
- A traditional Ayurvedic way to strengthen and soothe the eyes is to gaze at the flame of a ghee lamp. Prepare a ghee lamp by taking a small bowl, placing a cotton wick in it, and adding ghee. Be sure the wick is made of genuine cotton; synthetic cotton will burn up in an instant. Also be sure the wick is not too thick. Apply a little ghee to the tip of the wick and then light it. Set the ghee lamp at a distance of 2 or 3 feet from you, remove your glasses, and gaze at the ame for 2 or 3 minutes without blinking. This procedure will improve the lustrous quality of the eyes.
- Ghee increases intelligence, enhances memory power, rejuvenates the skin from inside and increases its glow. It boosts body energy, detoxifies and nourishes the body, increases clarity of voice, improves digestion, and increases body fire.
- Clarified butter is the most important part of panchakarma – A technique for cleansing and purification of body.
- Ghee increases the quality and quantity of semen, is very effective in eye disorders, and acts as a good rejuvenation, a traditional Ayurvedic therapy to restore the body’s vitality to its fullest capacity.
- For hives, rash, urticaria, dermatitis, or eczema, apply bitter ghee on the skin.
- For nosebleed, put a couple of drops of lukewarm ghee in each nostril. Dip a cotton swab into a jar of ghee, and apply it to the nose. Ghee is hemostatic – that is, it stops bleeding.
- For a burning sensation in the eyes, put 1 drop of lukewarm liquid ghee in each eye at bedtime. That will lubricate the eyelid and eyelashes and will also soothe and strengthen your eyes. Ghee is also excellent for joint health as it lubricates and oxygenates them.
- For all kinds of allergies, the respiratory passage is open to dust and other allergens. One way to minimize the effect of allergens that you can’t avoid is to lubricate the nasal mucous membrane with ghee. This prevents direct contact of the allergen with the mucous membrane.
- Ghee helps you distress, sleep better, and wake up fresher. It takes nutrients from your food and delivers them through fat permeable membranes as in the brain.
- To treat your anger and hostility, dip your little finger into a jar of Brahmi or plain ghee and lubricate the inside of your nostrils with a small amount. Then gently inhale the ghee upward. This sends a calming message to the brain. You will become quite tranquil; anger and hostility will dissolve like a cloud in the sky.
- The antioxidants in ghee make it a miraculous anti wrinkling and anti ageing therapy.
- For dizziness using ghee nose drops will also help. Warm up a little bit of ghee until it is liquid. When cool enough not to injure delicate tissue, put 3 to 5 drops in each nostril, and inhale. This will improve blood supply to the brain and will relieve the dizziness.
- In some people, the underlying cause of asthmatic wheezing may be an infection descending from the nose and sinuses. If this is the case, putting 5 to 10 drops of warm ghee in each nostril will help.
- For normal cold, put some liquid ghee (3 to 5 drops) in each nostril in the morning and evening. This will lubricate the nasal passages and relieve the irritation and sneezing of a cold.
For all kinds of sinus problems once a day, instill a little warm ghee in each nostril and sniff. You may use an eyedropper or use a clean finger dipped in ghee. Warm ghee nose drops (5 drops in each nostril) stimulate natural hormones and help regulate balance of the system. - For piles, externally, you can apply a mixture of 1/2 teaspoon turmeric and 1 teaspoon ghee directly to the hemorrhoid at bedtime.
Side Effects and Health Risk
People who have high cholesterol or who suffer from obesity should be cautious about using it.
FAQs.
Q. How to make homemade traditional multipurpose salve with ghee?
A nice salve can be made at home for helping to heal cuts, bruises, acne, rash, facial blemishes and so forth on the skin, especially in the area of the face, neck, throat and forehead. But its use also extends to bums, wounds and sores located elsewhere on the body as well. To make this salve:
- Heat the ghee without burning and smoking.
- Add 2 handfuls coarsely chopped and slightly crushed garden thyme to the pot.
- Let thyme gently cook for an hour, the pot should always remain covered.
- After this, briefly uncover just long enough to strain through a coarse, wire sieve of some kind.
- Return to the stove and cover again to reheat for about 5 minutes.
- Then remove the lid and add between 1-2 tbs. of melted beeswax and stir thoroughly. Also add about 1/4 tsp. of pure vanilla when putting the beeswax in.
- Finally, pour the entire contents from the pot into clean jar. Allow to set up before screwing the lids on.
- Store in a cool, dry place.
- Massage some of this salve into the skin each day after showering; and again in the evening before retiring for the night.