Be sure to look for grass-fed, organic ghee whenever possible to ensure you’re getting the maximum amount of nutrients without extra added ingredients. Ghee is made by heating butter to remove the milk solids and water. However, it is heated longer than clarified butter to bring out the butter’s inherent nutty flavor. Used for thousands of years and a staple in Ayurvedic healing practices, ghee is one of the most powerful healing foods out there. But what is ghee butter, and why should you add it to your pantry? What Is Ghee?

Regularly incorporating a few servings of ghee into your diet can help you meet your vitamin K needs. Vitamin K is essential to many aspects of health, such as blood clotting, heart health and brain function. It’s also incredibly important when it comes to keeping your bones healthy and strong. As mentioned above, ghee is an excellent source of butyrate, the short-chain fatty acid that is crucial to maintaining optimal digestive health. Butyrate provides energy for the cells in the colon, helps support gut barrier function and fights off inflammation. Winners: Winter Prize Draw (December) - Rebekah Lewington of Saxmundham, Suffolk; Autumn Draw (October) Safeena Ahmed of Rochdale, Lancashire; Late Summer Draw (August) - Helen Taylor of Inverness, Scotland; Early Summer Draw (June) - Liz Cook of Coulsdon; Surrey; Spring Draw (May) - Lauren Reed of Ashford, Kent; Winter Draw (March) - Fiona Karbal of Birkenhead. Those with a lactose intolerance have a difficult time digesting the milk sugar lactose, but symptoms are generally much less dangerous than a casein allergy. Symptoms of lactose intolerance may include bloating, flatulence, nausea, vomiting, gurgling and cramps. The majority of people who have sensitivities to either casein or lactose don’t have an issue with ghee, as these elements have been removed through skimming and straining. 4. It Contains Conjugated Linoleic Acid

In addition to the nutrients above, it is also a good source of butyric acid and conjugated linoleic acid, both of which have been associated with a number of health benefits, such as reduced inflammation and increased fat loss. Benefits 1. It Has a High Smoke Point Finally, there is even a difference in taste between ghee and butter. While butter is typically described as creamy and sweet, ghee boasts a nutty, rich and deeper, more intense flavor. Where to Find and How to Use

Winners: Christmas Draw (December) - Jan MacGregor of Norfolk; Autumn Draw (October) - Arthur Humphreys of Anglesey, Wales; Summer Draw (July) - Nadia Stanbridge of High Wycombe; Spring Draw (May) - Kellie Collister of the Wirral; Valentine's Draw (Feb) - Elizabeth Sullivan of St Helens, Merseyside.With the surge in popularity of health trends like the ketogenic diet, healthy fats have garnered a lot of attention. Right alongside familiar favorites like olive oil and coconut oil is ghee, a type of fat made by heating butter — ideally grass-fed butter — to boost its natural nutrient profile and flavor. It is full of fat-soluble vitamins and healthy fatty acids, and ghee benefits can range from building stronger bones to enhancing weight loss.

This important fatty acid is also made by the gut flora when you eat fiber. As the primary source of energy for the cells in your colon, butyrate is key to promoting a healthy gut microbiome, which plays an integral role in health and disease. 6. It Has a Strong, Buttery Flavor First of all, ghee contains nearly double the amount of short- and medium-chain fatty acids as butter. These types of fats are metabolized differently in the body than long-chain fatty acids, and studies show that they are not associated with heart disease. Not only that, but ghee is rich in beneficial nutrients and contains several fatty acids that are important to health. Plus, there are numerous benefits of ghee, and some of its components have been shown to do everything from boost weight loss to improve digestion and relieve inflammation. It has a high smoke point, is free of lactose and casein, and is high in beneficial compounds like CLA and butyrate. It also contains several fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamins A, E and K. Unfortunately, most cooking oils with a high smoke point are less-than-stellar for your health. Canola oil, peanut oil, corn oil and soybean oil are usually genetically modified and also often partially hydrogenated to increase their stability.Ghee supplies a small amount of vitamin K but can make a big difference when combined with an overall healthy diet and lifestyle — not to mention all the other ghee benefits you can get. 8. It Promotes Healthy Weight Loss Although fat was once vilified as unhealthy and disease-causing, we are now beginning to understand the importance of including healthy fats in your diet. Today, ghee is recognized not only for its intense flavor and versatility, but for the numerous health benefits associated with it. Nutrition Facts This is because vitamin K is directly involved in bone metabolism and increases the amount of a specific protein that is required to maintain the calcium in your bones. In fact, a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition looked at the diets of 2,591 adults and found that a low intake of vitamin K was associated with a reduced bone mass density in women. Because ghee is made by heating butter to separate the liquid and milk solids from the fat, it shares a similar nutrient profile to butter. Both are high in saturated fat as well as fat-soluble vitamins A, E and K. However, there are some unique differences that set the two apart. This can be especially crucial if you suffer from any conditions like leaky gut syndrome, IBS or Crohn’s, as your body may have difficulty absorbing these fat-soluble vitamins. Ghee benefits your health by providing a boost of these nutrients to help you meet your daily needs. 3. It’s Free of Lactose and Casein

Continue to simmer, stirring occasionally, for 20–30 minutes until the milk proteins have separated from the gold liquid. There will be white foam on the top and some bits of milk fats on the bottom of the pan. Gently skim the foam off with the mesh skimmer and discard. You may have another “foam up” stage, and this is good. Skim and discard once again. Now, the milk fats on the bottom of the pan will continue to brown. Again, this is a good thing — this is where the distinctive nutty flavor comes from. Not only that, but CLA, one of the primary fatty acids found in ghee, has also been associated with reduced body fat mass as well.

In moderation, ghee can be an incredibly healthy dietary addition. However, it is possible to overdo it, and eating too much can actually have a negative impact on your health. Like any type of fat, if eaten in excess, ghee disadvantages can range from diarrhea to indigestion. Long-term, an extremely high-fat diet may also result in issues like weight gain and heart disease. Additionally, some studies have found that the cholesterol in ghee may oxidize when exposed to high heat. The oxidation of cholesterol is linked to several adverse health effects, including heart disease and even cancer. Adding a few servings of ghee into your day is an excellent way to squeeze in some extra fat-soluble vitamins. It can help boost your intake of vitamin A, vitamin E and vitamin K, all important nutrients that play a role in everything from maintaining healthy vision to keeping your skin glowing. Ghee benefits come from the nutrition ghee provides. It’s high in fat and provides an extra dose of several fat-soluble vitamins, such as vitamin A, vitamin E and vitamin K. One tablespoon (14 g) of ghee (clarified butter) contains: