What Is Ghee?
Ghee is a by-product of cow’s milk and is used for cooking many dishes. It is obtained through the process of melting butter and is also used in Ayurveda. In India, people eat roti surfaced with ghee or butter in order to provide more taste to their food. Ghee and butter are also used in sweet treats to maintain the delectable taste and simultaneously reduce the fat content. Contrary to popular belief, ghee contains fat-soluble vitamins which help us lose fat and the substance also helps us maintain healthy cholesterol and ideal hormone levels. Surprised? So are most people.
Ghee is made up of butyric acid, which acts as a detoxifier, supports lively insulin levels, improves colon health, and easily eliminates toxins and fats from our body. Ghee is safe and beneficial for all skin types, contains vital fatty acids that absorb dead skin cells, and gives us soft, glowing, and supple skin.
Consuming homemade ghee often boosts our physical and mental strength and also helps us in fighting illness. Additionally, ghee removes impurities from our bodies and strengthens our muscles, tendons, and vision.
What Is Butter?
Butter is known to be solid if it is kept inside the fridge and it becomes liquid when it is exposed to a temperature of around 90 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. While butter is generally made of the protein and fat components from churned cream, it can also be made through cow’s milk and the milk of other mammals.
Butter is used for cooking to raise the level of flavor in food, which is why it is incorporated in numerous dishes, no matter the cuisine. Butter provides vitamins like A, E, B12, and K12, meaning that there are health benefits to consuming the substance in moderation. The undamaged fat globules, butterfat crystal, and free butterfat are the three different fats within the butter. Due to the various fats within the butter, if you are looking to cut it out of your diet or are allergic, there are various butter substitutes that can provide the same taste and effect.
Furthermore, butter contains antioxidants that provide protection to humans. It protects our immune system and also acts as an excellent dietary source of cholesterol. Moreover, butter contains Vitamin E which protects our skin from harsh UV sun rays and heals wounds in the epidermis.
However, not everything about butter is ideal health-wise. Butter is known to be high in fat, calories, and saturated fat, which is often a risk to the heart and internal body systems. It is important to consume a moderated amount of butter to ensure that these health risks are avoided.
Ghee and butter are very similar and are equally loved by most. They make food delectable and tasty and even enhance the health benefits of meals. If both of them are so great, how does one know which one to add to their dishes? Is one better than the other?
The Difference Between Ghee and Butter
To start off, ghee doesn’t burn quickly due to it having a higher melting point than butter, which can make cooking with ghee inconvenient at times. Furthermore, ghee and butter are both made from cow’s milk, but their fat content and their nutritional profiles are different, with ghee being free from milk sugar lactose, and butter containing both protein casein and the milk sugar lactose.
Ghee can often be used in foods instead of coconut oil to avoid making dishes overly greasy. Most people describe the taste of ghee as “more buttery” than actual butter due to ghee having a distinct nutty taste. In terms of storage methods, ghee can be stored at room temperature for as long as two to three months, while butter should be wrapped in butter paper and then refrigerated in order to keep it fresh.
Type of fat per tablespoon | Butter | Ghee |
Polyunsaturated | 0.4 g | 0.5g |
Saturated | 7 g | 10g |
Monounsaturated | 4 g | 3.5g |
Due to the multiple differences between ghee and butter, with ghee having more health and taste benefits, many people consider ghee to be superior.
The Benefits of Ghee
Ghee contains conjugated linoleic acid, which is beneficial for supporting cardiovascular health and promoting sustainable weight. Furthermore, the conjugated linoleic acid in ghee is helpful for fending off cancer, obesity, and high cholesterol, and it strengthens our stomach lining. Additionally, ghee contains butyric acid, which improves our digestive system and also provides energy to the cells in our large intestine. As people say, one tablespoon of ghee before bed is considered to relieve constipation by healing your digestive tract.
Due to its low moisture content, ghee’s shelf life is extremely long, making it ideal for storage over time. Fortunately, ghee is easy to digest and absorb for people of all ages. Due to the versatility of ghee, ghee is the most suitable alternative for those who avoid dairy products. It seems like ghee could not get any better, but it is beneficial for weight loss as well! Yes, that’s right! The consumption of ghee improves our metabolism, which leads us to lose weight more easily.
Both ghee and butter are made from cow’s milk, so their nutrition levels are similar, but ghee is considered to be healthier than butter in objective terms, easier to digest, and more convenient to cook with.
Learn moreAfter spending more than a year being confined to their homes, losing loved ones, and facing the struggles of online work and school, many have adopted a negative mindset towards the pandemic. We can’t blame them! COVID-19 has impacted our lives in more ways than one and it is becoming difficult to keep looking ahead with hope with all the talk about new strains and another wave of the virus. However, the pandemic does not have to be completely dismal. Even in stressful times, one can always adopt an optimistic mindset and encourage positivity in their life.
Surround Yourself With Positivity
Yes, COVID is all around us and there is always a constant reminder of the pandemic in the back of our minds, but we can accompany that reminder with things that bring us comfort, whether that be people or material objects. Studies from Psychology Today prove that a person generally feels happier when they are around other people, which shows how vital social interaction is in our lives. Of course, it is not advised to be around many people for safety purposes, but an easy way to interact with others is arranging family activities within your homes and setting aside time to video chat or call your coworkers, friends, and relatives. Even a few minutes of conversation and laughter can improve someone’s mood immensely and give them a more positive outlook.
Additionally, people often find comfort in objects that resonate with them or that hold a particular meaning. When being quarantined, one can surround themselves with books if they enjoy reading, or listen to their favorite music, or indulge in their comfort foods. This method of gaining positivity may seem cliche and purely common sense, but you would be surprised to know how many people forget about their interests once they are immersed in the stress of the pandemic. The next time you find yourself complaining about COVID-19 or not having much hope for the future, try picking up a hobby that you used to love, or watching a movie that reminds you of the good times. It makes all the difference!
Help Out in the Community
Another excellent way to look forward with confidence and optimism is to dedicate your time to helping those around you, especially those who have been negatively impacted by the pandemic. Easy and efficient ways to do this are donating face masks, writing comforting letters to retirement homes, volunteering at local charities and food banks, and donating to GoFundMe fundraisers for struggling families. You may think the impact you can have as a singular individual may be small compared to the immense damage COVID has caused, but even a little help goes a long way!
The first step to truly making an impact in your community is being educated about what the people around you are struggling with. Make an effort to check the news and talk to people that you don’t normally speak to find out what you can do to make someone’s life even a little bit easier. Check in with local hospitals and healthcare facilities to see if they are understaffed and donate money to organizations who are actively trying to repair the damage of the pandemic. By knowing what is happening around you, you are able to target weak areas of your community and facilitate the journey to COVID recovery.
You may be asking, how does doing good deeds help me think more positively? Well, the answer is very simple. It is in human nature to obtain satisfaction and comfort from making other people happy. Studies from The University of California at Berkeley state that giving to others makes a person even happier than they would feel after treating themselves. This is because happiness is often contagious and people enjoy seeing their loved ones smile and laugh, therefore boosting that individual’s own happiness.
When we do good deeds around our homes and community, it makes us feel good and more positive because we know that we are making other people happy in the process. Community service also makes us feel productive and effective, and after many of us have spent numerous lazy months in quarantine, feelings of accomplishment are very valued.
Have Time for Yourself
COVID has brought numerous stressful aspects into our everyday lives, meaning that after a while, working and doing regular activities can seem like too much to handle. This feeling is not specific to any individual. In fact, APA President Bruce Schwartz, M.D. states that the pandemic is having negative impacts on many people’s physical and mental health, meaning that their positivity is decreasing by the day.
A simple way to combat this overwhelming amount of stress is to allot time everyday to spend on yourself with no obligations attached. This can be as straightforward as making yourself coffee every morning or as random as spontaneously going on a road trip. Having time to enjoy yourself without the pandemic constantly weighing you down is becoming increasingly necessary as we close in on 15 months with the virus in our lives.
Unwinding for an hour each day allows you to release any pent up stress or negative thoughts that may be festering. Furthermore, the activity gives you the opportunity to see the good in your life and the positive aspects of your days that you may have previously overlooked. By making it a priority to self-reflect and spend time with yourself, you promote the well-being of your mind, body, and personal happiness.
Learn more