Ghee is made up out of butter by separating the milk solids from milk and has been used as a flavour enhancer, for weight gain therapies and immunity boosters in our diet. On the other hand, oil is used for flavour, cooking and in some cases for maintaining our health too. Have you ever wondered which one among these two might be beneficial for incorporation in our daily diets or cooking? You can look through the article to know more about different types of oils and ghee.
Oils that are rich in SFA tend to increase HDL levels but are not a healthier option as oils rich in SFA increase LDL levels significantly too. On the other hand though PUFA can reduce your LDL levels, they can also reduce HDL levels (good cholesterol) levels too. Oils rich in omega 3 can help reduce inflammation associated with inflammatory disorders like Diabetes, Blood pressure and Obesity. So you have to choose oil that has low to moderate levels of SFA and PUFA but high levels of MUFA. The oil should also have moderate levels of Omega 3 as well.
Ghee contains medium chain triglycerides (MCT) which is easier to digest as our body is able to break it down quickly. Some of the oils mentioned above are good sources of Long Chain Triglycerides (LCT) and it’s difficult to digest LCTs as they take longer time to break down completely. MCTs also do not require bile for transport to the liver in contrast to LCTs. MCTs can be beneficial for people suffering from gastric issues and even for patients suffering from epilepsy or autism. Ghee is also a good source of butyric acid which helps in the growth of beneficial microbiota in your stomach.
Conjugated Linoleic Acids is naturally found in animal/dairy products. It is useful for weight loss, muscle generation and maintenance of a healthy heart. CLA also has anti-diabetic and anti-carcinogenic properties. CLA enriched ghee can also have antioxidant properties and thus help in warding off free radicals.
Ghee contains healthy fats that can be beneficial for both the mother and the baby. Omega-3 and Omega-6 content in ghee is good for the nervous system and cognition of the baby. It also helps in providing extra calories for the mother, required during pregnancy.