Ghee oil: health benefits and harms

Translated from Sanskrit, the word "ghee" (or "gi") means melted cow butter. In India, ghee oil is called "liquid gold", believing that it can share solar energy with a person. In South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka) it is used for cooking, conducting traditional rituals.

What is ghee oil

Ghee butter is a ghee that does not contain milk protein or lactose. Due to this, it can be used by people who suffer from lactose intolerance, irritable bowel syndrome and other diseases associated with the problems of fat absorption.

In India and other countries of South Asia, ghee oil is considered a healing product that strengthens the body, removes toxins, heals the body, strengthens the spirit, gives longevity.

What is the difference between ghee and ghee

In India and other eastern countries, the product is prepared by prolonged melting of cream or butter at a low temperature, while the sediment and film are separated. It is believed that ghee oil made in compliance with all the rules can be stored for up to one hundred years.

The traditional Russian recipe for a ghee product includes adding water and several stages of heating: 10 glasses of water are added to one kilogram of butter. This mixture is heated until the oil blooms in the dishes. Then they put the oil in the cold, let it freeze, and excess water is drained through the side hole. Next, the process of re-heating is repeated until the water, which is drained from the chilled oil, becomes transparent. The resulting oil is salted, transferred to storage utensils, poured on top with a small layer of brine and stored in a cool, dry place (in the cellar). The shelf life of such a product is up to four years.

The industrial method of producing ghee is also different from the traditional method of manual cooking. The butter is melted at a temperature of 40-50 degrees, then in a centrifuge it is separated from milk protein, milk sugar and water. After that, the resulting product is quickly heated to 100 degrees in a vacuum boiler, as a result of which the remaining water evaporates. After this, beat the butter and pack it up.

All three products are free from milk protein and lactose, contain a minimum of water. However, the formulation, which requires a leisurely and careful handling of the product, allows you to maintain maximum useful properties.

There are other differences between the product and other types of ghee:

1. Ghee oil can withstand temperatures up to 180-200 degrees, its burning temperature is higher than that of ordinary melted or creamy, which makes it ideal for cooking food on it.
2. Regular ghee raises blood cholesterol, while ghee, due to cleaning during cooking, helps lower cholesterol.
3. Ghee oil differs from melted butter in recipes of other cultures by temperature in production. The first is cooked at low temperatures, excluding boiling, for several hours.
4. Ghee in European traditions usually does not imply the presence of additional properties other than nutritional. Ghee oil is credited with healing and cosmetic properties. In Ayurveda, it is believed that a person who regularly uses it becomes more joyful, he develops creative abilities, he turns to God and feels oneness with the whole living world.There is a feeling of support and help from external forces, self-confidence, fear disappears, a feeling of despair and sadness, the energy industry as a whole becomes stronger, cleaner, filled with the power of the sun. Ayurveda assures that ghee oil gives clarity of perception, motivates and inspires.

Composition and calorie content

Ghee oil is a high-calorie product. 100 grams contains about 900 calories, which is approximately 50% of the daily intake for an adult. 100 grams of ghee oil accounts for 99 grams of fat, which is more than 140% of the daily need for fat. Therefore, the use of this product requires reasonable caution. Also in the composition of about 0.6 grams of carbohydrates and 0.3 grams of protein.

One of the key elements of ghee oil, which gives it so many beneficial properties, is linoleic acid (5–6% of the volume). This acid is not produced in the body, it is very important to get it with food in sufficient quantities.

Vitamins in ghee oil: A, E, D, K and B3. Trace elements: calcium, sodium, potassium and chlorine.

Benefits of Ghee Oil

General benefit

1. During the production of ghee butter, milk sugar, lactose, is smelted. Thus, people who are lactose intolerant can consume this product, unlike regular butter.
2. The dependence of vitamin A deficiency and various eye diseases has been proven. Ghee oil contains a large amount of fat-soluble vitamin A, which makes it a means of preventing eye diseases and an accompanying product in the treatment of eyes.
3. The product stimulates appetite, as well as the production of gastric juice, which helps better digestion and absorption of food. In general, the product, due to the content of butyric acid in it, is considered extremely useful for the gastrointestinal tract.
4. Ghee oil contains medium chain triglycerides - fats, for the breakdown of which bile and, accordingly, pancreatic enzymes are not required. Thus, this product can be used for cholecystitis, pancreatitis, hepatitis and other diseases when the body cannot fully absorb fats.
5. Ghee oil contains substances that stimulate the growth of T cells, which are the first to start the fight against viruses and bacteria, respectively, this product helps strengthen immunity.
6. Vitamin K2 in the composition of ghee oil is an important factor in bone density, prevents their fragility. It also promotes the absorption of calcium, an essential element of healthy bones, improves blood coagulation and has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the brain. At the same time, one teaspoon of ghee oil contains the daily norm of vitamin K for an adult.
7. Ghee oil contains a large amount of unsaturated omega-3 fatty acids, which are the most important substances for the health of the cardiovascular system, help lower cholesterol. In other cooking oils, omega-3s are much lower.
8. Since ancient times, ghee oil has been known as a means of relieving joint pain and, in general, treating joints. Fats, when taken orally and applied externally, contribute to the production of articular lubrication and the reduction of inflammatory processes.

The main source of knowledge about the use of ghee oil in medicine is Ayurveda, the traditional system of medicine in India. It is part of many Ayurveda medicines and is considered a life-prolonging agent that promotes the regeneration and restoration of body cells.

For men

Due to the fact that one of the main causes of diseases and deaths in men in developed countries is cardiovascular disease, the use of ghee oil, which contains substances that prevent atherosclerosis, stimulate tissue metabolism, is important for people of all ages.

Also, ghee oil is useful for men due to the fact that it has a mild sedative effect, helps relieve stress after a busy day, reduce stress, improve memory, and strengthen the nervous system.

Ayurveda considers ghee oil a key product in men's nutrition. The use by men of this product, which carries the power of the sun, inspires them, encourages them to act for the good of the family and makes them feel joy from work, cleanses the mind of profanity and illegal motives, gives the power to accept the laws of society and follow them.

Ayurveda also considers this product a natural aphrodisiac. Ghee butter with milk is considered to be an excellent tonic, rejuvenating and energizing.

For women

Ayurveda encourages women to consume ghee oil, as it, saturating the energy of the sun and the joy that accompanies it, helps a woman become more chaste, gives strength for spiritual development. Ayurveda masters believe that women who regularly use ghee oil become happier, their joints acquire flexibility and mobility, and the voice becomes soft and soft. In general, due to the cosmetic properties, women in South Asia, and more recently, in other countries, appreciate ghee oil as an affordable way to rejuvenate, fight wrinkles, even out the face, and improve skin tone.

Ayurveda recommends using this product to women who need to restore hormonal balance.

In traditional Indian medicine, ghee oil is used to treat the organs of the female genitourinary system, using it for massage and using it internally.

During pregnancy

Ghee oil is rich in vitamins A, E, D and K, which are necessary for the formation of the bone, nervous and other systems of the child's body.

If we turn to Ayurveda, the source that describes ghee oil in medicine for centuries, then a pregnant woman is recommended to use this product throughout the entire period of gestation.

However, it should be remembered that ghee oil is a high-calorie product, therefore, in order to avoid excessive weight gain, it should be consumed in moderation, not more than 30 grams per day.

In Asia, topical application of ghee oil shortly before birth is popular to prevent unpleasant birth complications. Official medicine does not have a unified point of view whether such procedures help. However, many of those who used similar methods were satisfied with the result.

When breastfeeding

The use of this product during breastfeeding is possible and even necessary to saturate the body of the mother with useful substances. Ayurveda also contains descriptions of recipes that help stimulate the production of breast milk, with reference to ghee oil. For example, it is believed that shatavari grass in the form of powder, pastes or tablets helps to enhance lactation, but to achieve the best effect, it is necessary to drink it with water with dissolved ghee oil or fry it with sugar in ghee oil.

For children

Most children in South Asia, Iran, and many Arab countries consume large amounts of ghee every day. Moreover, in India there is a tradition of treating a newborn with a small piece of ghee oil.

In most families of the East, ghee seasoned salads with fragrant oil, add it to sweets, and fry food on it. However, for all its benefits and wonderful taste, its use for children should be limited. One tablespoon a day will be enough.

It is interesting that this product is used not only in food, but also as massage oil for infants and moisturize the skin.

The scientifically proven high content of linoleic acid in ghee oil makes it important for children, since this acid promotes the growth and development of all body tissues.

When losing weight

Usually, the use of oil is associated with weight gain, and when losing weight, it is recommended to limit the use of foods rich in fats. However, ghee oil does not contain dangerous trans fats, and, on the contrary, contains lipolytic (fat-burning) substances that prevent the deposition of fats, as well as linoleic acid, which helps to reduce weight.

Ghee oil contains butyrate (butyric) acid, which regulates insulin levels and has an anti-inflammatory effect. It is a short-chain acid, therefore, it is absorbed faster and easier than long-chain fatty acids, which helps to stimulate weight loss.

Thus, if you use this product within reasonable limits, not more than one or two dessert spoons per day, weight gain should not occur.

In order to remove toxins from the body, nutritionists recommend taking a solution of ghee oil in warm water. After taking, you should drink water with lemon, which will speed up the metabolism.

In Ayurveda, it is recommended to mix ghee oil with dried fruit puree. A mixture with a paste of dates or other fruits is a nutritious dessert that helps to lose weight and improve the body.

Medical use

Ghee oil is used in many Ayurveda medicines due to the fact that it is able to combine and enhance the healing properties of herbs with which it is mixed. Moreover, it is also used as an independent substance for prevention and treatment.

1. Ghee oil is considered a general strengthening agent that helps to improve immunity.
2. Dried fruits with ghee oil, almonds, cinnamon, coriander, saffron, walnuts and pine nuts should be mixed and, if desired, add sour cream or ryazhenka. A small portion of such a mixture gives strength for the whole day, with regular use strengthens the body and prevents colds and other diseases.
3. Ghee oil is a traditional remedy against sore throats, colds, and coughs. The softening and warming properties guarantee a lasting effect.
4. You can dissolve a spoonful of oil, take the product by dissolving in water or milk, with the addition of honey and other spices and seasonings.
5. After a fresh wound is healed (scarring), ghee oil helps heal burns and restore damaged skin faster.
6. Skin problems caused by irritation or drying out, lack of moisture, are eliminated by applying ghee oil and a light massage. Massage oil needs to be warmed up a little. Use should be a small amount.
7. Redness and irritation of the eyes can be treated by dripping ghee oil into the eyes. This procedure should be carried out very carefully, preferably under the supervision of specialists.
8. It is believed that eating ghee oil helps fight constipation.
9. Ghee oil mixed with fennel, nutmeg, cardamom and other spices improves digestion. It is important to contact a specialist in Ayurveda treatment so that he recommends the exact composition of the treatment mixture, depending on the causes of digestive problems.

In traditional oriental medicine, it is believed that the strength of the effect and the healing effect increase in proportion to the age of the product. For medical purposes, ghee oil should be used for a year or more. Over time, ghee oil becomes very hard. In order to be able to use it, you have to cook it for several hours. But the valuable properties acquired over the years are worth the effort. Ayurveda believes that ghee oil, which is ten or more years old, helps in healing wounds, as well as in the fight against the following diseases:

1. Poisoning and fainting.
2. Ear diseases, headaches.
3. Migraine (you need to rub ghee with oil before going to bed hands, legs and temples, to achieve and consolidate the therapeutic effect, the procedure should be repeated 10-15 days; another way is to drip 1-2 drops into the nose).
4. Pathologies of the female reproductive system.

Ghee oil in cosmetology

Ghee oil is used to saturate the body, hair, face with useful substances:

1. A massage with ghee oil will help warm and soften the skin.
2. It is believed that this product helps to remove toxins and heal the skin, relax the body.
3. In its pure form, it can be used as a natural lip balm.
4. A mask of ghee oil for the feet in just one night moisturizes and softens the skin.
5. Daily application of ghee oil to the skin around the eyes will help lighten dark circles and remove traces of fatigue.
6. Eating a product contributes to the production of collagen, which makes the skin more smooth and supple.
7. You can take baths with ghee oil. To do this, dissolve a few spoons in warm water. After several procedures, the skin of the body will become noticeably smoother and firmer.

The following are some cosmetic recipes with ghee oil for hair and facial skin.

Recipes with ghee oil for hair

1. For split ends, weak and thin hair: one tablespoon of ghee oil, two drops of lavender essential oil. Apply oil for an hour and then rinse with shampoo.
2. For dry and unruly hair: apply equal parts of ghee and olive oil for 15 minutes and rinse off with shampoo.
3. To stimulate hair growth: apply a mixture of ghee and coconut oil for an hour and then rinse with water.

Ghee Recipes for Skin
An important rule is that for even application and exposure, masks should be warmed up. The best effect of masks with ghee oil will be achieved with regular use (at least once a week), and also provided that the skin is well cleaned before application and well moistened after application.

1. To even out the complexion and oily skin: one tablespoon of ghee oil, one spoon of honey and four tablespoons of applesauce are mixed, heated and applied to the face. After 15 minutes, rinse thoroughly. Instead of applesauce, you can use oatmeal softened in boiling water.
2. To rejuvenate the skin and fight wrinkles: one tablespoon of ghee oil, one tablespoon of turmeric, four tablespoons mashed potatoes. Keep the mask on your face for no more than 15 minutes.
3. For nutrition, rejuvenation and whitening: one tablespoon of ghee and honey oil, two tablespoons of castor oil, two drops of iodine. It is important to immediately apply a mask to the face immediately after preparation of the mixture. This mask can also be used for both hands and neck. Wash off after 15-30 minutes.

The masks listed above along with ghee oil contain useful auxiliary ingredients. However, even a simple facial massage with oil diluted with water, and applied diluted oil, will help smooth and soften the skin.

Cooking use

Dishes cooked with ghee butter acquire a gentle buttery taste with a touch of nutty flavor. It can be used in salads, confectionery, as part of baking, in the preparation of dishes from vegetables and meat.

Is it possible to fry ghee in oil

Due to the fact that ghee is a highly refined ghee, it can be fried on it. Even at 180-190 degrees Celsius, it does not produce combustion products, carcinogens. In this regard, ghee can be fried in oil several times, it will not leave an unpleasant aftertaste. Before reuse for frying, ghee oil should be filtered to remove the remnants of the food that was cooked in it. If the product has an unpleasant odor, the oil darkens and starts to burn, it should no longer be reused for frying.

In order to get the best result when frying, do not overheat the oil, the products in it will not fry. Also, one should not rush to the beginning of cooking, underheated oil will not be able to saturate the foods enough.

Harm and contraindications

The use of ghee oil in small quantities is considered harmless, but for diseases of the liver, stomach and problems with excess weight, you should limit the daily intake of one or two tablespoons per day.

In the studies of the Indian physician Ram Singh, an Indian paradox was described: the country's population mainly has a lack of body weight and a thin physique, but many have diseases of the cardiovascular system. The doctor attributed this to the fact that regular consumption of ghee oil in sufficiently large volumes leads to problems with blood vessels and concomitant diseases. The discussion of how dangerous fats are to the heart and blood vessels has been going on for many years, but one thing is certain: the abuse of fatty foods is dangerous to health.

Other contraindications to the use of ghee oil are neoplasms, benign and malignant. Breast lesions in women, polycystic infections are a contraindication for the regular use of ghee oil, since it can stimulate their further development and growth.

It is not recommended to take ghee oil for exacerbation of any chronic and acute stages of the disease. In this case, first of all, you should consult a doctor of traditional evidence-based medicine, stop acute conditions or enter the stage of remission and only then begin to use this product as a therapeutic and prophylactic agent.

How to choose and store

You can choose the finished ghee oil according to two signs: it should be yellow, light, uniform, and also have a pleasant creamy smell. Oil with a dark speck, with a musty or sour smell can also be used for cooking, but the taste of the food will not be ideal, and there are few useful properties in it.

To store small volumes of ghee oil, which is planned to be used every day, special storage conditions are not required: the room should be cool, but not cold, without direct sunlight. It is believed that the product should be stored without a refrigerator, but even there it does not lose its properties, only to use it takes more time to warm up. If you plan to store ghee oil for a long time to get a seasoned product, it should provide a dark, dry place and hermetically sealed dishes.

How to make ghee butter: recipes

The cost of ghee oil, melted in the traditional way, without a centrifuge and a vacuum installation, is about 1,500 rubles per kilogram.

The basis for success in making ghee butter is quality raw materials. Traditional Indian recipes use cream, but the desired result can be achieved by using butter. The oil content should be 82.5%, the oil should not be salty or flavored. It is desirable that the product was manufactured in accordance with GOST.

Before you start making ghee, it is worth checking the oil bought for him in three stages: it should boil in a hot pan with small bubbles, when heated, there should be no foam and unpleasant odor. When frozen, high-quality oil becomes brittle and breaks into pieces when trying to cut it. Third check: a piece of oil must be diluted in boiling water and check what the solution turned out. It should be homogeneous, without sediment and flakes.

At the preparatory stage, it is worth making sure that there is all the necessary utensils: the bottom and walls should be thick, keep the temperature and not let the sediment burn, aluminum containers should not be used.

The process of melting is long and takes up to one and a half hours (to turn two packs of ordinary butter into 350 grams of ghee). In order to get about 700 grams of ghee, it will take more than two hours and one kilogram of butter. To speed up the process, you can cook the product in the oven, this will reduce the cooking time by about 30 minutes. You can also add a few drops of lemon juice or a little citric acid. The quality of ghee oil in this case, of course, will not change for the better.

It is believed that the sediment that is obtained by heating oil can be consumed as food in baked goods or in cooked foods. In India, sediment is used for dressing salads, as a sauce for various dishes. It is important to remember that the film and sediment, unlike the oil itself, can be stored for no more than three days.

After a successful experience in making ghee butter, you can try experimenting and add spices to it - cinnamon, coriander, allspice, cloves.

In Ayurveda, it is believed that while cooking oil you need to be in a good mood, the mind should be free from evil thoughts and anxiety. According to traditional Indian teachings, the food that a person prepares absorbs his condition and mood. Therefore, the preparation of ghee oil should occur in joy, with good intentions and love.

On the stove

The melt pan should have a thick bottom with a non-stick coating, keep heat well and be two to three times larger than the volume of melted butter.For example, if you cook ghee from one kilogram of butter, the volume of the pan should be 2-3 liters.

The fire on the stove should not be strong at all. The oil should not hiss and darken. If this happens, reduce the heating temperature. After all the butter has melted, the fire must be increased to boil the product. After boiling, reduce the fire again and leave the contents of the pan to warm up. Do not cover the pan with the lid so that the oil does not boil and does not run away. During warming up, never mix the mass. All impurities independently settle on the bottom. The crust that forms on top should be removed as it arises.

The resulting oil should be light with a golden tint and a pleasant sweetish cream aroma. If it is dark, smells unpleasant, it can still be decanted and used in food. But it will not have medicinal properties.

After cooking, ghee oil should be immediately poured into storage utensils, having previously filtered so that the sediment does not fall into the container.

In the oven

Ghee butter is convenient to cook on the stove if you need a small amount for periodic use in food. However, if you use it for the treatment or preparation of cosmetic masks, large volumes are needed, and the method of languishing in the oven is better for their preparation. This method is also convenient because in the oven, dishes with butter evenly warm up, the product does not burn, the precipitate settles without interference.

To cook ghee, the oven should be heated to 150 degrees Celsius and put the dishes with oil there. For three packs of butter, it will take about an hour and a half before the contents of the dishes turn golden, covered with a transparent crust. The resulting product must be carefully filtered and poured into storage utensils.

In a slow cooker

The basic principles for making ghee butter in a slow cooker are the same as in other dishes. The volume of the dishes should be much larger than the product, boil must not be allowed, do not cover. Butter should be cut into pieces weighing 50-100 grams for more uniform melting.

The start of the cooking process should be carried out in the “Baking” mode or in another mode with a heating temperature of 80–90 degrees Celsius. In about 10-15 minutes, the oil should completely melt and begin to boil. After this, the temperature should be reduced, for example, put the slow cooker into the "Extinguishing" mode, and leave the oil for an hour and a half, periodically removing the film formed on top.

When the film ceases to form, and the liquid becomes transparent and golden, you can filter and pour the resulting ghee oil.

Interesting Facts

1. A recipe for ghee oil has been known since long before our era. This is one of the oldest products known today. In many countries of the East in ancient times, the stocks of this product were considered an indicator of the wealth of the family, since its production required a large amount of milk and a lot of time.
2. Ghee oil is widely used in religious rituals in Asia and the Middle East, as it has a high degree of purification, does not burn and has a pleasant aroma. The rituals associated with the birth of children, initiation into men, weddings and funerals are not complete without lamps with ghee oil.
3. This product is one of the main components in the fire offering ritual. While reading the mantras, rice and ghee oil are added to the fire, thereby achieving the desired environmental impact.
4. According to ancient Indian legends, a cow is considered the first form of life on Earth and the mother of mankind, because it gives people its milk. Thus, eating cow milk products, such as ghee oil, helps cure any disease. It is believed that it not only relieves the symptoms of diseases, but also treats human karma.
5. Tibetan monks prepare ghee oil according to a special recipe: the temperature at which it is heated is about 15 degrees Celsius. This ensures the safety of beneficial properties and the absence of harmful impurities. Tibetan ghee oil with a maturity of more than one hundred years can cost more than two million dollars per kilogram, since many believe that it can prolong life and even give immortality.
6. In traditional Indian teachings, it is separately indicated what happens to a person if he does not receive enough ghee in his diet. A person begins to struggle for power, becomes prone to hoarding, justifies his laziness and stupidity, stops resisting momentary impulses and whims, shows pride, disrespect, selfishness, a tendency to violence. A stoop appears, thinning hair, bones become fragile.
7. Due to the fact that ghee oil is associated with the energy of the sun, it is recommended to use it in the daytime, ideally in the interval between 11 and 14 hours. An exception to this rule may be the use of the product before bedtime, with tea or milk, to combat insomnia and reduce anxiety. In the cold, it is allowed to use ghee oil for a warming effect, especially for sick and weakened people.

Photo of ghee butter