The reality behind ghee for weight loss

If you are trying to lose weight, we are sure you have shunned fat from your diet and the first thing to go off the shelf is ghee, also known as clarified butter. Right? If you are nodding your head in affirmation, you need to read this.

What if we tell you that the ghee that you have ditched does not only have plenty of nutritional health benefits but can also help you lose weight. Yes, you read that right, ghee is no culprit for those extra kilos, rather it can help you get rid of that extra weight.

Mostly used in Indian dishes, ghee is 99.9 per cent fat and 1 per cent moisture with some fat-soluble vitamins and charred milk protein fractions. Ghee is prepared with saturated fat and thus it does not get spoiled when kept at room temperature.

When churned butter is clarified, it renders ghee. It can be made using buffalo, cow, sheep and goat milk. Though mostly it is made using cow's milk. The ghee made at home by clarification of milk fats is called desi ghee. The homemade ghee stays good for longer because of the presence of phospholipids, which are missing in commercially made ghee.

A study was conducted to understand the fatty acid composition in ghee. It was found that ghee is a good source of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). DHA is the most popular omega 3 fatty acid. Omega 3 is the essential fat that we need to consume from our diet as our body cannot make it. Walnuts, fish oil and flaxseeds are some good sources of omega 3 fatty acid.

DHA can help reduce the risk of certain conditions like cancer, heart attack, insulin resistance, arthritis and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder).

As per Ayurveda, ghee contributes to longevity and protects the body from many diseases. Apart from that, it is believed that ghee nourishes and lubricates the joints and improves the absorption of fat-soluble nutrients.

One-two small spoons of ghee is the advisable amount daily. It is advised to have ghee if you are trying to lose weight mainly because it's rich in amino acids and helps to shrink the size of fat cells, says Dr Mansi Chatrath, Nutritionist.

She further adds since ghee is almost 99.5 percent fat so the quantity must be watched, any thing more than 2 spoons is not recommended.

Also, if we are having other sources of omega 3 like flaxseeds, walnuts or fish oil we actually may not need ghee as a source of omega 3, explains Dr. Mansi.

Since ghee is rich in omega 3 fats (DHA) and omega 6 (CLA), it can be great for weight loss. Omega 6 fats have shown to increase the lean body mass while reducing the fat mass. Experts have also found that ghee helps in mobilizing fat cells to be burnt for energy.

Ghee is packed with essential amino acids that can shrink the size of fat cells. Adding ghee can be beneficial if your body accumulates fat quickly. Also, omega 3 fatty acid in ghee can help you lose inches and ultimately help you shed those extra kilos.

Butyric acid in ghee along with vitamins A, D, E and K helps in boosting immunity, promotes gut health, helps in keeping your hair healthy, strengthens your bones and improves eye health. Ghee is strengthening and removes toxins from our system.

While yes, ghee has many nutritional benefits and can help you in weight loss, but anything in excess is bad and same goes for ghee. It should be consumed in moderation as it is high in saturated fats. It’s okay to consume one-two tablespoons of ghee every day, to yield the maximum benefits.