What Is Ghee, 7 Natural Benefits + How to Use Ghee

 

Click HERE to Discover these 80 Keto-Friendly and Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes

When it comes to ghee on a Paleo diet, there’s a bit of confusion on whether it’s OK to eat. So, what is ghee, exactly? Here’s the lowdown on this unique dairy product.

Since ghee is a dairy-based food, which is typically a Paleo no-no, it’s easy to assume that it causes the same tummy troubles as milk or butter. However, ghee is quite different from other dairy products, and offers many natural health benefits.

Rest assured that ghee isn’t your regular stick of butter, and here’s why.

What is Ghee?

Ghee is often made from cow’s milk and also referred to as clarified butter. While similar, clarified butter and ghee are slightly different. Unlike clarified butter, ghee is cooked to a point of caramelization after all the milk solids and water have been separated from the liquid fat.

Is Ghee Paleo?

Since ghee is sourced from dairy, many people wonder why it’s Paleo-approved. This is because when ghee is made, the milk solids are separated from the fat, so the end product has very little milk solids. That also explains why ghee has more of a golden color than regular butter.

Ghee is also free from lactose and casein, making it a better option than butter for people who are lactose intolerant. Casein is a protein in milk that many people have a hard time tolerating, and can result in bloating and indigestion. Studies also link dairy products containing these proteins to an increased risk of cancer.

So, is ghee Paleo? Yes, so long as you are sticking to a high-quality, grass-fed, and organic product that is free from other vegetable oils and added ingredients.

7 Natural Benefits of Ghee

Ghee Supports Digestive Health

Since ghee doesn’t contain lactose and casein, those with mild lactose sensitivities usually have no trouble with ghee. Ghee is also rich in butyric acid, which can help support gut health by reducing intestinal inflammation, easing conditions like Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Ghee Promotes Healthy Weight Loss

Similar to coconut oil, ghee contains medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) that can help aid in weight loss. Studies show that MCTs are more helpful in reducing waist circumference and bodyweight when compared to long-chain triglycerides.

Ghee Supports a Healthy Pregnancy

One of the little-known benefits of adding ghee to your diet is its ability to help support a healthy pregnancy. Ghee is rich with DHA, an essential fatty acid that plays a super important role in supporting fetal development of the nervous system, immune system, brain, and eyes.

Ghee is Rich in Essential Vitamins

Ghee is rich in fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K – all of which play a crucial role in overall health. Vitamin D is needed for hormone and mood balance, vitamin K transports calcium to our bones, and vitamin E prevents free radical damage in the body. Vitamin A is also important for both vision and immune health.

Adding ghee to your diet can be a great way to make sure you are getting these important vitamins in your diet.

Ghee Has a Higher Smoke Point Than Butter

Because it has a higher smoke point than butter, ghee is an excellent choice for high-heat cooking. This is important because cooking oils beyond their smoke points can cause the oil to oxidize, releasing free radicals that can cause a cascade of inflammation.

Ghee has a smoke point of 485°F, whereas butter has a smoke point of 350°F. This makes butter only suitable for low to medium-heat cooking.

Ghee Contains Healthy Fats

Since ghee is pure butterfat, it is a very rich source of healthy dietary fat that contains both short and medium-chain triglycerides. We know that medium-chain fatty acids play an important role in maintaining a healthy weight and supporting energy levels, but short-chain fatty acids are also beneficial for overall health as well.

Short-chain fatty acids help to suppress inflammation, and can even help prevent the formation of cancer in the gut and other organs.

Ghee Supports Brain Health

Nearly 60% of the brain is made up of fat, and the brain needs lots of healthy fat to function properly. Essential fatty acids (like DHA) are fats that we must obtain from our diet since the body cannot synthesize these fatty acids on its own. These fats are great for mental development and for the overall integrity and health of the brain.

How to Use Ghee

One of the great things about ghee is the fact that it can easily be swapped in for butter in any recipe. Try using ghee for Paleo-approved baking recipes, or use it as your primary cooking oil when making things like omelets and stir-frys.

Mild, nutty ghee can be added to your diet in a number of different ways. Here are some delicious ways to add it to your meals:

• Use it to sauté veggies and meats
• Swap it in baking recipes instead of butter
• Spread on baked savory goods
• Mix into your morning cup of coffee
• Drizzle over roasted vegetables

The Importance of Buying a High-Quality Ghee

Ghee is great, but just like everything else, quality is king. Make sure that you stick to high-quality ghee made from grass-fed butter, which ensures that the cows were not fed an inflammatory diet of grains, corn, or soy. Choose organic ghee to ensure that the milk came from cows that were not treated with antibiotics.

Another thing to look out for is added ingredients. Check the label to make sure that the product only contains pure ghee and is free from added vegetable oils or sweeteners.

Some excellent organic and grass-fed ghee options include the following brands:

• Ancient Organics Organic Ghee – Grass Fed
• Viva Naturals Organic Ghee – Grass Fed
• Fourth & Heart Grass-Fed Ghee

How to Make Ghee

While ghee is widely available in stores and online, the best way to enjoy it will be to make it yourself. Don’t worry, it’s fairly simple.

If you’re feeling up to the task, check out our easy, homemade ghee recipe here. 

The Bottom Line

If you like butter, consider giving ghee a try. It’s free from the milk proteins that can cause digestive issues, and since it’s pure fat, you get that buttery taste with none of the health problems.

Use it to cook, bake, or as a healthy topping to your favorite baked goods. You’ll get a flavor boost while providing your body with important vitamins and healthy fats that support a healthy digestive system.

Watch these 2 videos below –

Butter vs Ghee WHICH IS BEST? (+ How to Make Your Own Ghee at Home!)

5 Ways to use GHEE on (Healthy) Hair & Body!

Written by Rebecca Jacobs

Author Bio:

Rebecca Jacobs N.C is a Certified Holistic Nutrition Consultant, specializing in digestive and women’s health. She takes a holistic approach to wellness, doesn’t believe in “dieting,” and believes that healthy eating must be delicious. Rebecca is also a recipe developer and creates healthy alternatives to traditionally unhealthy foods.

A lot of people have gotten results from the Keto diet, and enjoyed the foods that it has to offer. However, many of the people who are following this diet have a hard time finding the recipes that they need, especially ones that are quick and easy to complete.

Fortunately, Kelsey Ale, noticed this problem, and decided to do something about it. She’s found that making recipes in a slow cooker gives you meals which are not only delicious, but also take very little time to make. Mostly you just put a few simple ingredients in the slow cooker, and let it do the rest.

To find out more, click on – Keto Slow Cooker Cookbook

3 Immune-Boosting Recipes to Keep Your Body Healthy and Strong

 

Click HERE to Discover these 80 Keto-Friendly and Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes

The Ultimate Immune-Boosting Soup to Fight Colds

There’s something about a flavorful soup that makes eating your veggies easy.

This vibrant, immune-boosting soup is one of those loaded-with-vegetable recipes that makes healthful eating a cinch.

The key to this soup’s fragrant, slightly spicy taste is turmeric. It also gives the soup its immune boosting properties! Be sure to add a little black pepper to the recipe to help maximize the absorption of turmeric, turning this soup into an anti-inflammatory powerhouse.

This one-pot immune-boosting soup recipe is very simple – all you need to do is tenderize the veggies, let it simmer in vegetable broth, and blend it until smooth. Make sure to simmer the soup at a low heat, as overheating the ingredients will make them bitter. The longer you can simmer at a low temperature, the better!

The recipe adds coconut yogurt, which thickens the soup and balances the flavor of the turmeric. Try topping your bowl of immune-boosting soup with more coconut yogurt for swirling as you eat!

The recipe is large enough to feed a crowd. It is also great for meal prepping or storing in the freezer for an easy lunch or dinner. Serve your soup with a side of Paleo bread and your belly will be satisfied!

Tip: Want to make your own coconut yogurt? Try this homemade recipe here.

Recipe by Megan Olson

Tools:

• Pot
• Blender
• Ladle

Ingredients:

• 1 T extra virgin olive oil
• 1 cup leeks, diced
• 3 cups broccoli florets
• ½ cup unsweetened coconut yogurt
• 6 cups organic vegetable broth
• ½ t turmeric
• ¼ t black pepper
• ½ t ground ginger
• ½ t dried thyme

Instructions:

1. Heat extra the virgin olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the leeks and cook for 3-4 minutes until fragrant.

• Add the broccoli florets and stir. Cook for another 5 minutes until the broccoli becomes tender, then add all the remaining ingredients.

• Cover the pot and simmer at a medium heat for 10 minutes, then reduce the heat to low and cook another 30 minutes. (Note: Do not simmer at a higher heat as the soup will become bitter).

• Remove the pot from the heat and let the soup cool for 10 minutes.

• Carefully pour the soup into a blender. Blend on high until smooth, then transfer to a bowl and enjoy!

Easy Fire Cider Recipe (Gut-Balancing + Immune-Boosting) by Jennafer Ashley

To make your batch of Fire Cider, you’ll first need to decide which method is best for you.

For same-day cooking, you can combine all ingredients (except for the honey) inside a crockpot and set for four hours on low.

If you have a little more time to spare, option two allows you to combine the ingredients into a quart-sized jar and store in the refrigerator for 2-4 weeks.

Follow the same process for both methods during the last steps of straining and adding in the honey.

Store in the refrigerator for up to one month and take one tablespoon every few hours whenever you feel the onset of flu symptoms or need to restore your gut balance while traveling.

Fire Cider Recipe Crockpot Method

Tools:

• Crockpot
• Quart-size jar with lid
• Strainer

Ingredients:

• 1 white onion, roughly chopped
• 1 head of garlic, roughly chopped
• 2-inch piece of ginger, peeled and chopped
• 1 t ground turmeric
• 1/8 t black pepper
• 2 T raw honey
• 16 oz. apple cider vinegar with “the mother”

Instructions:

1. Combine all ingredients (except raw honey) in crockpot. Cover with lid and cook on low for four hours.

• Strain liquid into a jar and stir in honey. Secure the lid and store in refrigerator for up to a month.

Fire Cider Recipe Traditional Method

Tools:

• Quart-size jar with lid
• Strainer

Ingredients:

• 1 white onion, roughly chopped
• 1 head of garlic, roughly chopped
• 2-inch piece of ginger, peeled and chopped
• 1 t ground turmeric
• 1/8 t black pepper
• 2 T raw honey
• 16 oz. apple cider vinegar with “the mother”

Instructions:

1. Combine all ingredients (except raw honey) in a quart-sized jar. Cover and refrigerate for 2-4 weeks.

• Strain liquid into a jar and stir in honey. Secure the lid and store in refrigerator for up to a month.

Immune-Boosting Mixed Green Spring Soup

Recipe by Jennafer Ashley

Put your springtime greens to good use with this one-pot soup you can have ready in minutes!

If you’re looking for a fresh way to use up those hearty spring greens, this brothy soup has you covered. It’s full of immune-boosting antioxidants and essential vitamins to keep you nourished throughout the day. Plus, it’s versatile enough to enjoy with any kind of protein (like chicken or beef).

Add as Much Produce Power as You’d Like

When it comes to spring soup, there’s a bounty of seasonal veggies to choose from. Tougher greens like chard, kale, and collard greens give this soup nutritional substance. However, you can also add in other greens (like celery, leeks, or zucchini) if you want to switch things up a bit.

We bump up the overall staying power of this soup with hearty parsnips. They make a great low-carb alternative to white potatoes and can be easily paired with other root vegetables like carrots, turnips, or rutabagas.

Complement Your Soup with Savory Herbs

For this recipe, we use ingredients that infuse mouth-watering aromas with the zesty tang of fresh lemons. White onion and garlic make the perfect combination to sauté in buttery ghee, as it intensifies the broth’s flavor and overall richness.

Fennel is full of herby anise flavor, and is equally delicious raw as it is cooked. While we utilize the bulb in this recipe, its seed and wispy fronds are also edible and can be added to other dishes, like salads, meatballs, and coleslaw. Other great herbs to add include fresh thyme, a sprig of rosemary, dill, or fresh basil.

Helpful Tips to Get Started:

• Sauté your veggies with ghee. Ghee is ideal for high heat cooking and won’t burn easily like butter or other cooking oils.

• Make your bowl even more filling. While this recipe comes with plenty of versatile options, you can also add mustard greens, cauliflower, or sweet potatoes for even more nutrition.

• Swap out herbs. Try herbs like thyme, rosemary, or dill to pack in even more springtime flavor.

Nutrition facts: 9 grams of protein,18 grams of carbohydrates, 5 grams of fat

Tools:

• 5-quart Dutch oven

Ingredients:

• 1 T ghee
• 1/2 cup chopped sweet white onion
• 2 cups chopped parsnips
• 1 t minced garlic
• 1/2 cup sliced fennel bulb
• 10 cups chicken stock
• 2 cups chopped collard greens
• 2 cups chopped Swiss chard
• 2 cups chopped kale
• 2 cups spinach leaves
• 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 t salt
• 1/4 t ground black pepper

Instructions:

1. Melt the ghee over medium heat in a Dutch oven and add in the onions and parsnips.

• Cover and cook for 10 minutes, tossing in the garlic and sliced fennel halfway through.

• Pour in the chicken stock and allow the soup to come to a boil, about 10 minutes.

• Reduce the heat to medium-low and stir in the greens, lemon juice, sea salt, and pepper.

• Let the ingredients simmer for 10 minutes uncovered, then serve hot and enjoy!

Watch the 4 videos below for additional immune-boosting recipes to keep your body healthy and strong –

Immune Boosting Tonic Recipe (Boost Immune System Naturally With Whole Foods)

3 Immune Boosting Juices + JUICER GIVEAWAY! Healthy Grocery Girl

TURMERIC GINGER HONEY BOMB | immunity boosting recipe

Turmeric Ginger Tea | Immune Boosting Tea | Immunity Boosting Recipe | Natural Cold Remedy

Written by Megan Olson

Author Bio:

Megan is the author of the gluten free website, Skinny Fitalicious where she creates easy, low calorie recipes. Megan is also a nutrition practitioner specializing in weight loss. When she’s not in the kitchen or coaching clients, she’s in the gym teaching group fitness. To view more of her work, visit Skinny Fitalicious.

A lot of people have gotten results from the Keto diet, and enjoyed the foods that it has to offer. However, many of the people who are following this diet have a hard time finding the recipes that they need, especially ones that are quick and easy to complete.

Fortunately, Kelsey Ale, noticed this problem, and decided to do something about it. She’s found that making recipes in a slow cooker gives you meals which are not only delicious, but also take very little time to make. Mostly you just put a few simple ingredients in the slow cooker, and let it do the rest.

To find out more, click on – Keto Slow Cooker Cookbook