That Beautiful Nutritious Pot of Gold - Ghee

How many of you know about ghee?  If you do, you are one of the many who are absolutely in love with this fountain of health and flavor.  If you have not experienced it, get ready for a healthy taste treat.  (By the way, if is pronounced with a hard g like in "go" only gee.)

Ghee has a rich history in the ancient tradition of Ayurveda and is frequently found in Indian cuisine.  It is made by simmering butter until the milk solids such as lactose and casein separate and are removed along with water.  Therefore it is basically lactose and casein free. It has a rich, nutty flavor that enhances any cuisine.

In last week's blog on Bulletproof Coffee, I stressed that you want to use grass-fed butter or ghee.  I find it is easier to get grass-fed ghee because it can be ordered online.  It comes in a jar and does not need to be refrigerated.  What is so important about using this grass-fed saturated fat?

To start with, you get several key fat-soluble vitamins, namely A, E and K2.  Contrary to public belief - you really don't get A from carrots due to the lack of absorption, whereas, since A in ghee is fat-soluble, it is easily absorbed.  

One of the benefits of K2 is that it is a carrier of calcium and again, being fat-soluble, it too, is easily absorbed.

Here are some more benefits of using ghee:

• It has a high heat or smoke point so it is great for cooking and sautéing.  
• It strengthens the immune system.
• It is beneficial for maintaining a healthy heart.
• It reduces inflammation (especially in the gastrointestinal tract).
• It helps prevent macular degeneration.
• It aids in reducing oxidative stress* in the body.
• It aids in weight and fat reduction.

In last week's blog on Bulletproof Coffee, I talked about Medium Chain Triglycerides.  Because ghee is rich in these MCT's, they are absorbed directly by the liver and burned as energy.  This is one of the reasons why and how it burns other fats and aids in weight and fat reduction.

We could stop right here and be joyously giddy about using ghee, but let me share a few more factors that aid our health.

It is a good source of Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) - another fatty acid, with some powerful health benefits such as it:

• reduces body fat
• helps prevent cancer
• alleviates inflammation
• and lowers blood pressure

It is also a source of Butyric Acid, a short chain fatty acid.  This acid is known to:

• promote healthy insulin levels
• fight inflammation
• help promote a healthy gut
• and support the production of T cells to the gut to strengthen our immune system.

Who wouldn't want to use this healthy saturated fat?  Aren't you glad you know about it, if you didn't? I use it in my Bulletproof coffee.  It has such a rich, nutty flavor.  It is great on veggies and to sauté anything from meat to fish to scrambled eggs.

If you are on Keto, this is a must have item.  And....I love that is is a natural, real food!

*Oxidative stress is essentially an imbalance between the production of free radicals and the ability of the body to counteract or detoxify their harmful effects through neutralization by antioxidants.

---