Can ghee help you with weight loss?

If you are on a weight loss journey, you might have heard from a lot of people to eliminate ghee from your diet. Since ghee is a source of fats, most people avoid having it when they are aiming to lose weight. But do you really need to ditch this healthy source of fat in order to lose weight? Read on to know the benefits of ghee and why there is no need to shun it away from your diet.

In a study, it was found that ghee is a good source of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). DHA is a healthy fat and is also the most popular omega 3 fatty acid. Omega 3 is an essential fat that our body needs from external sources as it cannot make it on its own.

DHA can help reduce the risk of certain diseases like cancer, heart attack, insulin resistance and arthritis. Certain essential amino acids are also found in ghee that help in shrinking the fat cells in size.

Ghee also contains butyric acid, along with vitamins A, D, E and K that strengthens immunity, boosts gut health, keeps bones healthy and improves eye health.

According to Ayurveda, ghee protects the body from many diseases, nourishes and lubricates the joints and improves the absorption of fat-soluble nutrients. Ghee is 99.9 per cent fat and 1 per cent moisture with some fat-soluble vitamins and charred milk protein fractions. As it is prepared with saturated fats, that is butter, it does not get spoiled even at room temperature.

You can make your veggies or dal in 1-2 tsp ghee, or spread a few drops of ghee on your chapati. This is beneficial for diabetes patients, as ghee reduces the glycemic index of chapatis. If you are dealing with the problem of constipation, mix one spoon of ghee in warm milk and have it at night.

One spoon of ghee is the recommended daily intake that you can easily take while aiming for weight loss. When you have reached your desired weight and wish to maintain it, the ghee intake can increase up to 2 teaspoons, but not more than that, as an excess of it can cause weight gain.

As ghee is loaded with omega 3 fats (DHA) and omega 6 (CLA), it can aid your body during weight loss. These healthy fats are said to increase lean body mass while reducing excess fat. It is also said that ghee provides your body with extra energy by mobilizing and burning fat cells.

Note: It is recommended not to take more than 1-2 tsp of ghee in a day. If you suffer from any lifestyle ailment, please consult your doctor before switching your fat source.