Good News! Here¡¯s Why You Should Be Eating More Desi Ghee In Winter

via Nandyala

Ghee has been used in Ayurvedic remedies for centuries.

Desi ghee is an essential part of the traditional Indian diet and is also an Ayurvedic medicine that has been used to treat a number of ailments like coughs, colds, weakness, skin problems and pimples. It is said that applying aged cow's ghee on the chest loosens up a cough and eating onions fried in ghee relieves a sore throat. Ghee is also an essential part of Chaywanprash, India's ancient super food, which is a must-have in winter.

It gets better. A recent study found that cow ghee increases the availability of enzymes responsible for the detoxification of cancer-causing substances and decreases the availability of those responsible for activation of carcinogens, scientists from the National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) have reported in the Indian Journal of Medical Research.

via SpiceFlair

Winter is the best time to have ghee.

According to nutritionist Sandhya Gugnani, winter is the best time to have ghee as it is easily digested and also provides much needed warmth to the body.

"Ghee helps the body absorb and use fat soluble vitamins like Vitamins A, D, E and K. It improves digestion and eyesight, keeps muscles healthy and removes impurities from the body. Most importantly, it has a softening effect and prevents skin from drying up, which is quite a common problem in winter," says Gugnani.

In fact, there is an increased demand for desi ghee in winter. However, this does not mean that you can go ahead and add liberal amounts of ghee to your food. You must ensure that your intake of total fat (including ghee) does not exceed the prescribed limit of fat consumption. People with cholesterol problems should be extra careful.

via Basicats

Have half a spoon of ghee before your tea or coffee in the morning.

Gugnani recommends that you eat half a spoon of ghee in the morning, followed by a hot beverage like green tea or regular tea or coffee. Here are some of the benefits that ghee has to offer:

? It moisturises skin and prevents dryness.

? It has Vitamin A, which is good for eyesight. It helps control eye pressure and is beneficial to glaucoma patients.

? It keeps joints healthy as it provides necessary lubrication.

? It has stable saturated bonds and so it is a lot less likely to form dangerous free radicals when it is heated, making it a safer cooking medium.

? It is rich in antioxidants and improves the absorption of vitamins and minerals from other foods, serving to strengthen the immune system.

? It is good for the brain as it makes it sharper and improves memory retention.