Ghee is a Superior Product

When we refer to ghee here please keep in mind that it is desi ghee or ghee prepared from A2 milk of Indian Native breed of Cows only. Indian breed of cows belong to Bos Indicus family where as commercially available A1 milk is taken from Western cows belonging to Bos Taurus Family. More details on A1 and A2 Milk here.

Cow ghee is considered as the supreme product derived from the cow and is priced high. Cow ghee benefits, the process of preparation and the quantity of ghee yield are the factors accounting for its high price and value. Cow ghee has got nutritional, medicinal and ritualistic applications and hence revered as a superior product by the Indian heritage.

Ghee Benefits in Nutrition

Cow ghee is rich Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid (PUFA) content, the so-called good fat. But the ghee has been branded as a devil in human diet during recent times despite its exceptional nutritional index.  In fact, the people are misled by the exaggeration of the fat content of the ghee, without considering the quality of the fat that the ghee is made of. The PUFAs are good fat and deserve special consideration in terms of their nutritional and health benefits, which is being undermined. The cow ghee generally facilitates the absorption of fat soluble nutrients, improves memory and acts as a lubricant in the joints and safeguards the bone health. The ghee has an antioxidant property which makes it an excellent anti-aging factor in our dietary intake presenting a superior dietary item, contributing greatly towards the health and wellness.

Why Ghee Benefits Health?

The ghee is a rich source of fat-soluble vitamins like vitamin A, D, E and K. Vitamin A plays multiple roles like cellular growth,  protection of the teeth and improves bone health besides taking care of the eyes and vision. Vitamin D improves cognitive abilities, facilitates calcium absorption and prevents inflammation in the body. Vitamin E accelerates wound healing and tones the immune system. Vitamin K mediates blood clotting. The other nutritious factors present in the ghee are the PUFAs.  Docosahexaenoic Acid  (DHA), an omega-3-fatty acid and the Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA), an omega-6-fatty acid are the major useful fatty acids present in the ghee. DHA is one of the essential fatty acids need to be procured from the food what we eat since it cannot be synthesized in our body.  The critical role of this fatty acid as a memory booster is well-accepted fact. Ghee, fish oil, flaxseeds, and walnuts are the dietary sources of DHA and hence ghee represents an important source of DHA  for the vegetarians. The DHA is modulating the glycemic profile in the human body and the butyric acid present in the ghee makes it immunomodulatory agent.

Ghee Benefits  for Health and Fitness

Ayurveda had convinced with the anti-aging and nourishing powers of the ghee long back and recommended it as a food and medicine.  Cow ghee is used extensively in Ayurveda for the preparation of medicinal formulations. Ayurveda has an entire range of formulations called “Ghrita” in which the cow ghee is used as the base for incorporating the medicinal ingredients to the body.  Ayurveda recommends cow ghee as a nutritional supplement for growing children, and adults for the prevention of some diseases and ailments, besides promoting longevity and higher cognitive abilities. Even contemporary research also proved the role of  DHA  in reducing the risk of heart attack, cancer, insulin resistance, arthritis and even mental disorders like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). In addition, the cow ghee stimulates gastric juice secretion and digestion. Further, the CLA in the ghee can be useful in weight loss, as it mobilizes the utilization of fat cells for energy production in the body. Interestingly, intake of a low dosage of cow ghee has been reported as lowering Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL) and cholesterol. Even weight loss regimens recommend regular intake of 2 teaspoons of cow ghee per day for health and fitness!!!

Ghee from the milk of desi cows, that means the A2 milk is in high demand among the elite and health-conscious consumers and even sells at a price up to INR 3000 per Kg. Many producers are branding desi ghee further as ghee from desi cows maintained with emotional wellbeing, which provides further scope for pricing. This is true as well since the emotional health of the cows is reflected in their milk. Why is this happening? It is because of the strong scientific proof on the health benefits of desi ghee and practical evidence transmitted among the users, many of them being celebrities. From the viewpoint of good health, the society should wake up regarding the advantages of desi ghee over refined oils, clarified butter, ghee from buffalo milk or ghee from non-desi cows. None of these competitive products can substitute the desi ghee in terms of nutritional value, health index, flavor, and taste!