Pros and cons of ghee in India – Cow vs A2 and more
Pros and cons of ghee – benefits and differences!
There are many pros and cons of ghee. according to my experience, hold a special place in my diet. I Samarjit Sinha has been eating ghee since childhood. I love the smell, taste, and the loads of calories that come with it. Ghee, a type of clarified butter, offers a mix of benefits and drawbacks. It can boost immunity, promote heart health, and even aid in bodybuilding. Plus, it’s a remedy for constipation, burn injuries, and adds that delightful touch to dishes.
However, ghee’s excessive consumption can lead to weight gain and heart issues. It’s calorie-dense, so moderation is key for enjoying its perks without unwanted side effects. But do the pros outweigh the cons? Maybe but not with a huge difference.
Otherwise, doctors would ask you to eat ghee every day.
But cow milk ghee has many benefits to boast about. And the taste as well.
At our house, we often use ghee from Morton or Jharna. We particularly do not like those from Amul, Ashirvad, etc.
Tell me in the comments, what you use at your home.
Aspect | Pros | Cons |
---|---|---|
Possible Benefits | – Ghee is an immunity booster | – High in saturated fat, not ideal for weight loss |
– Supports heart health | – Excessive consumption may lead to obesity | |
– Aids in bodybuilding | – Can cause indigestion and diarrhea | |
– Helps with constipation | – May lead to weight gain and heart issues | |
– Effective in burn treatment | – Excess consumption can lead to diarrhea and weakness | |
– Enhances the taste of dishes | ||
– May alleviate breathing issues | ||
Differences between Ghees | – A2 ghee is considered healthier | |
– A2 ghee has reduced lactose content | ||
– A2 ghee contains only fats from milk | ||
Digestion | – A2 ghee is easier to digest | |
Used for Treatment | – Ghee can be used for various treatments | |
– Cow ghee has medicinal properties | ||
Concerns for Heart | – Some concerns about cholesterol levels | – May not be suitable for heart patients |
– A1 milk ghee is less grainy and has less smell | ||
Consumption Frequency | – A spoon of ghee is generally harmless | |
– Excessive consumption may lead to side effects |
Possible Benefits of ghee
Ghee is clarified butter, which means that the milk solids have been removed.
Ghee does contain a good amount of vitamin A and it can be used for cooking.
The biggest downside to ghee is that it has more saturated fat than other types of fats such as vegetable oils or butter.
Ghee is a type of clarified butter. It can be used as an immunity booster by people who are healthy, with 10 to 15 grams daily.
Ghee as an immunity booster
Ghee has been found to have soluble vitamins A, D, E, K etc thus it might help with immunity.
But is it the best option to eat for those vitamins?
Nope.
Ghee might help with heart disease!
There are some studies like this ghee decreases the risk of heart disease.
It contains medium-chain fatty acids essential for body energy production and can help protect against tooth decay, supports proper bone growth, and protects from atherosclerosis.
As per research ghee also provides cardiovascular benefits by providing conjugated linoleic acid (CLA).
It should help with heart disease as well.
Milk with ghee benefits bodybuilding!
Anti-Inflammatory
Ghee has been used to treat burns and swelling since ancient times, but it also contains butyrate which can be found only in animal-derived foods like milk.
Ghee is calorie dense!
Ghee is a cooking fat that is used in Indian cuisine.
It’s calorie dense and loaded with saturated fat, but it can be beneficial when cooked moderately because of the health benefits it provides.
Consuming ghee will give you an energy boost for your workout or daily life.
But too much fat should be avoided.
Ghee might be good for constipation
As per this study, ghee with raisins can help people with constipation. I did not know that before as well.
Burn Treatment
Ghee might help with soothing burn wounds.
Taste Enhancer
Apply ghee to a dish and that becomes tasty very quickly. For example, Biriyani is one of my favorites what about yours?
Ghee will make your high-protein diet more palatable!
Might help with breathing issues
After a long day, there are many benefits that you can get from just one drop of oil.
Cinnamon and ginger fried in ghee are also beneficial for the respiratory system if it cannot breathe properly.
A paste made with tulsi or holy basil mixed with warmed ghee will help relieve symptoms as well because of its anti-inflammatory properties.
Neem leaves and mustard added at the end helps to combat bacteria during the churning process
Disadvantages of ghee
Ghee is a clarified butter that is commonly used in Indian cooking. It has many benefits, but it also comes with some disadvantages and precautions.
- Ghee is a calorie-dense food so it will increase your weight with fat super fast. So ghee should not be eaten in huge quantities especially if you do not do any workout.
- Consuming too much ghee might increase obesity.
- Consuming too much ghee is not good for the heart.
What are the differences between normal ghee and A2 ghee?
In India, there are two types of ghee: normal ghee and A2 Ghee.
The difference between the two is that A2 Ghee was made from pure milk fat while most other countries have used cow butter to produce their product.
The benefits of using A2 Ghene include a longer shelf life as well.
And it has significantly reduced lactose content which may help people with digestive issues or those who can’t tolerate dairy products because they cause stomach upset like bloating, diarrhea, cramps etc.
The other difference is that A2 Ghee contains only the fats from milk, which means it’s a much healthier option.
What is A1 and A2 protein?
A2 milk is produced from A2 cows that are exclusively grass fed. Desi ghee has the A2 protein, and regular ghee does not have it.
A1 and A2 proteins are the labels given to milk, which is produced from different cows. This can be a problem when trying to make ghee with these two types of protein because they have different properties in terms of texture and flavor.
Making process of Ghee
Ghee is made with A2 milk, which has higher quality.
Ghee is made by hand churning, so nutrients stay intact. Most of the time the A2 ghee is produced by hand.
Taste
Desi ghee has a creamier texture and different taste compared to A2 Ghee, which is also called “golden butter.”
Desi Ghee is yellow in color because it contains beta-carotene, but the science behind this isn’t fully understood.
A2 ghee is grainy and my great uncle used to buy those for us. Even the smell was heavenly, I do not find ghee from big brands with that smell anywhere.
The other ghee with A1 milk is less grainy and the smell is less.
Digestion
A2 Ghee is made from pure milk, and it can help people who are suffering from digestion issues.
It is harder to digest dairy products for most people and especially those who are not healthy.
Cow ghee has a different composition than other types of butter or oils, so it does not have the same problems as them.
Used for Treatment
Ghee can be used for different purposes such as headaches, nasal blockages, dry skin, burns, and more.
You can check all the treatment related to ghee with research data here.
Cow ghee has been found to have medicinal properties while buffalo ghee does not.
Cow’s milk is considered the best source of cow ghee because it has more medicinal properties than any other source of animal fat.
Can too much ghee harm you?
Ghee is a common Indian cooking ingredient. It is made by heating butter or other animal fats until the solids are separated and skimmed off the top, leaving behind pure liquid ghee that contains no milk proteins, lactose, casein, or cholesterol.
Ghee has many benefits which make it a popular cooking medium in India: it can be used to cook vegetables without much oil; it enriches the flavor of food; it adds delightful taste and aroma to dishes; and lastly, it is a good source of fatty acids such as oleic acid.
However, ghee has some side effects too: excess consumption can lead to diarrhea, making you feel nauseous and weak; and lastly, too much ghee in one sitting may also cause indigestion.
Is it actually helpful to drink ghee?
If you are working out then ghee can help you with eating the good fat. If you are trying to gain weight then ghee can supply you with those additional calories.
Ghee contains about 75% saturated fats compared to butter which has 12%. Ghee also has vitamins A and D in addition to antioxidants like beta carotene and vitamin E.
Vitamins in a tasty way, yum!
However if you want to lose weight then you might want to avoid it.
The high calorie content might not go well with your overall diet.
What happens if you eat ghee everyday?
Some people might experience headaches or loss of appetite after consuming too much ghee, while others may suffer from heart diseases due to high levels of saturated fatty acids and cholesterol.
Cnsuming too much ghee can cause indigestion and diarrhea since it contains high levels of saturated fats.
Since you are consuming a lot of calories – you can gain some fat in unwanted places real quick with consuming ghee everyday!
Is one spoon of ghee good for health?
One spoonful of ghee is no danger at all. But more ghee is generally bad for health.
Since ghee us mostly fat – you should not expect anything unusual benefit to health.
Can heart patients take ghee?
There are some potential adverse effects associated with ghee such as increased cholesterol levels. There are also other concerns related to animal-based products like A2 milk which may not be suitable for heart patients.
Ghee is a clarified butter that has been used in India for centuries. It can be obtained from cows or buffalos, but the vast majority of ghee comes from cow milk. Ghee is popular in Indian cooking and has many potential benefits, including skin care and weight gain among others.
The Last Rep!
There are many pros and cons for ghee.
But over eating ghee, or large portion of food made with ghee is not advisable to any one.
But as far as taste enhancing goes, ghee is unparalleled.
You might also pick ghee if you are building mass and not into looking lean.
Ref: Ghee