What do you think? Which one is healthier- ghee or oils? If oils are unhealthy, then is every kind of oil unhealthy?
Fats are considered the most dreaded enemy for healthy folks. Although, good fats found in nuts are beneficial. The first step in being fit is to choose the right kind of fat for cooking. Oil is an important component of food. Oil or other sources of fat i.e. ghee is essential to cook the food in minimal amounts.
Ghee: Desi Option for All your Food
Ghee is a type of clarified butter and has been a major source of fat in the Indian subcontinent from ancient times. Traditionally, ghee is prepared by boiling raw milk. As per Ayurveda, the boiled milk is then covered and cooled for 12 hours at room temperature. After this, the curd is added to it and rested overnight. Then the next day, the curd is churned to get cultured butter and simmered to get ghee. In the process, simmering helps in inculcating a nutty taste to it.
Ghee is different from clarified butter. In the case of clarified butter, it is boiled till the water is evaporated. The milk solids on top of the liquid are removed and the remaining liquid fat is called the clarified butter. It solidifies at room temperature. Whereas, in ghee, instead of removing the butter when milk solids get separated, the entire liquid is set to cool. The milk solids and protein turn brown and settle down. This gives a nutty aroma to the liquid. Then it is strained to get a brown butter i.e ghee.
Versatility of Ghee
- Traditional Medicine: In Ayurveda, ghee is used to treat constipation and ulcers.
- Traditions: Ghee is used in fire rituals for auspicious events such as marriage, funerals, etc.
- Worships: Ghee is used to lighting the earthen lamps as an offering to the god and goddesses.
- Healing Process: Ghee helps in post-surgery healing as it has pain-relieving, anti-bacterial, and anti-microbial properties.
- Skin and Hair Care: Ghee is used to moisturizing our skin and make our hair look healthier and glossier.
Benefits of Ghee in our Diet
- Bullet coffee or bulletproof coffee is becoming a new trend in the journey of being fit. Ghee incorporated with black coffee is assumed to prevent hunger and give energy, thus promoting weight loss.
- It is advised to consume ghee on an empty stomach every morning. In Ayurveda, ghee consumed in an empty stomach is a great source of nutrition for the cells in our body.
- Ghee has a higher content of monosaturated omega-3 which helps in shedding inches in a healthier manner.
- Omega-6 fatty acids help to gain lean body mass and help in getting rid of fat body mass.
- The fat-soluble vitamin A, D, E, and K helps in body functions and immunity.
Oils
Vegetable oil or vegetable fats are extracted from seeds or parts of the plant. It may sound healthy, but the process of extraction and processing to make oils suitable for the market make it unhealthier. The refined oils such as mustard, soybean, and safflower oils go through chemical treatment in order to attain a certain aroma and taste.
What Makes the Refined Oils Unhealthier for Consumption?
- The refined oils are purified with the help of chemicals. Ultimately, what we get is a white and bland oil devoid of all the nutrients of the original oil.
- Polyunsaturated fats in refined oils pose a grave danger to our health. It impairs important bodily functions.
- Nickel used in refining vegetable oils is harmful to our respiratory system. It is carcinogenic.
- Hydrogenated oils are those that are hydrogenated by incorporating hydrogen gas into oils at high pressure. The more solid an oil is, the more hydrogenated it is.
- Trans fat, which is a ” healthier” version of hydrogenated oil should also be avoided.
- Sodium hydroxide used in the refining process causes digestive problems such as ulcers and gastroenteritis.
Are All Kinds of Oil Unhealthy?
Olive oil, coconut oil, and mustard oil are considered healthy. There are numerous debates regarding which oil is healthier. Olive oil has low Omega-6 content which is good for our health. Now, is ghee unhealthy as it has omega-6 as well? Well, it is all about the ratio of fatty acids. The ratio is completely fine in the case of ghee. Coconut oil is rich in lauric acid which is a rare saturated fat. It helps in improving the composition of blood lipids. The essential fatty acids in mustard oils help in regulating and maintaining healther levels of cholesterol.
Conclusion
On the basis of the arguments and reasons, ghee is healthier than most of the oils. As ghee is a major source of fat, it should be consumed in moderation for the best results. Not to forget, the bigger deal is also to know how pure the ghee is. The entire game is to understand the methods of processing the oil. Even though ghee is considered healthy, the lesser we consume unprocessed food, the healthier we will be. Therefore, it is more advisable to consume healthy fats found in nuts, seeds, peanut butter, avocado, and salmon to maintain a fit body.
