With the growing demand for healthier foods, a? New type? Butter has gained prominence, becoming practically indispensable on the menu of people with a balanced and natural diet as possible: the ghee. Also known as clarified butter or ghi butter, it is used in Ayurvedic medicine and Indian culture as a healing and rejuvenating food.
Giovana Morbi, an orthomolecular nutritionist, explains that ghee, better known as clarified butter, is very popular in Indian cuisine. “If you talk to a true Indian, he will say that ghee and clarified butter are not the same thing. But in fact, there is only one small difference between them, which is one of the stages of the production process. But nothing significant? That is why, in Brazil, ghee is easily called clarified butter.
As many people already know, the cow is a sacred animal in India. Thus, because ghee is made from cow's milk, it is considered a very powerful food, according to nutritionist Giovana.
• Clarified butter is nothing but a pure, salt-free oil extracted from butter (as its name implies), in a process where water, solid components and toxins from cow's milk fat are removed. , including lactose. So, in general, can be consumed by lactose intolerant ?, clarifies Giovana.
Ghee Health Benefits
But what benefits does ghee (or clarified butter) have on health? Why replace traditional butter with clarified butter?
Also read: 10 foods that look healthy but aren't
Giovana points out that in Ayurveda, ghee is considered a regenerating and rejuvenating food. Health benefits include:
- It is beneficial for the liver;
- Strengthens the body's natural defenses;
- It is good for gastrointestinal problems (it is widely used in the treatment of ulcers);
- Favors the health of the lungs;
- Helps improve memory;
- Helps make joints more elastic, resulting in lower risk of hypertension and cardiovascular disease;
- It is excellent for digestion as it stimulates the production of gastric juices;
- It is versatile and can be used even in preparations that will fire for a long time;
- It may be an option for lactose allergy sufferers (but it depends on the sensitivity level of the person's allergy, so it should be viewed with caution and advised by a healthcare professional).
How to make ghee?
Clarified butter can be found today in most health food stores. But whoever you prefer can produce yours! There are several ways to prepare, according to Giovana, but below, the nutritionist teaches one of them.
You will need:
- 500 grams of unsalted butter
- A tall or thick-bottomed pan
- A cotton fabric
Method of preparation:
- In the pan, put all the butter and bring to low heat so that it slowly melts. If the butter burns, it is not good.
- Let it cook until it forms a white foam on the surface (detail: this white foam is nothing but lactose).
- Remove foam slowly with a slotted spoon or large spoon.
- Repeat the process until the foam stops forming (which will take time depending on the amount of butter you use and the quality of it).
- After absolutely removing all white foam, let the butter rest for about 30 minutes so that the rest of the solids drop to the bottom of the pan.
- Strain the liquid. You can use a clean cotton cloth or sterile gauze to help.
- Place in a glass jar with lid and store in refrigerator (to last longer).
According to the nutritionist, the recipe yields 400 grams of clarified butter. “No need to store in the fridge, but it's good to last longer. It is not rancid and is valid for 3 months, he says.
Below you will find a video also teaching one way to prepare clarified butter at home:
If you wish, you can still add other flavors in your butter such as fine herbs, garlic? It's delicious!? Suggests the nutritionist.
How to use ghee butter
Although today is already the most successful, there are still some doubts about the consumption of clarified butter. Below you will find the clarifications for the main ones.
1. Can I use ghee butter in any recipe? Can it be heated?
Yes, it is super versatile and can be used simply to pass a brown bread, for example, as in fire preparations.
One big advantage is that it withstands very high temperatures.Unlike some oils which, when subjected to very high temperatures for a long time, can produce substances extremely harmful to health. With clarified butter, though, it doesn't happen! So is it a good food to use in long-burning preparations?
2. Who has lactose intolerance can consume?
Ghee is pure oil, without toxins and salt, extracted from butter. Water, solid components and toxins from cow's milk fat are removed, including lactose. Therefore, in general, clarified butter could be an option for this component intolerant, as in milk heat proteins are denatured and theoretically removed.
However, people with serious allergies to this food should consume with caution. How the person's body will react depends greatly on the sensitivity level of the allergy, but in general, digestion of this type of butter is much easier ?, says Giovana.
One must know that lactose elimination may not be complete in the process, so people who are allergic to milk protein or intolerant should only rely on medically clarified butter.
3. Is there a contraindication?
"Only people with a high level of milk protein allergy should be careful with consumption," says Giovana.
4. Does ghee butter lose weight? Can it be used freely in a weight loss process?
It is not correct to say that a food itself gets thinner. ? Ghee butter definitely does not help you lose weight. It's an oil, a fat, so it's caloric, but it's healthier. Even so, it should be used sparingly?
Despite being excellent for health, no one should eat ghee butter at ease. Yes, it is a good food, healthier and purer than normal butter, but it has calories and is saturated fat. Always eat with conscience ?, adds the nutritionist.
Where to buy
Ghee is found in most health food stores. The price is a little high: a 268ml pot, for example, costs in the range of $ 31. Thus, those who choose to do at home, usually save significantly, but, of course, do not have the practicality to already buy it ready.
- Ghee Clarified Butter Without Lactose Lorenzzo for R $ 24,90 at Kitanda
- Ghee Lzero lactose Lotus for R $ 31,70 at Mimo's Store
- Organic Ghee Butter for R $ 83 at Mimo Store
- Organic Ghee Butter for R $ 32 on Everything Healthy
Now you know why ghee is becoming increasingly successful among healthy dieters! Remember that even though it is beneficial to health, it is fat, has calories, and if consumed in excess, can bring health damage.
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