The box of sweets lay tantalisingly inviting on the table. I tried to ignore it and succeeded. Well almost. Then out of curiosity, I started reading the lines on the packaging. Pure ghee sweets— written in bold. I also recalled my visit to the ISKCON temple last month where they served Prasad made out of pure ghee.
With so much of ghee news on my mind I started reading about ghee and whether it is actually good for us. Ghee has always been used since ancient times in India. Clarified butter began to be used in the south where temperatures were always warmer than the north. So it had to be ghee or clarified butter and not butter which had to be used. And slowly people started realizing its benefits. As a cooking medium you can use very little and get enhanced flavors. Scientists are now saying that it also aids weight loss. The energy from medium chain fatty acids in ghee and coconut oil actually burns the fat in the body. It improves the functioning of the gall bladder and enhances digestion. Food gets burnt quickly and this also helps in weight loss as fat is not accumulated in the body. Ayurveda recommends usage of ghee as it provides an alkaline system for the body.
All this sounds quite good and I am definitely planning to try out ghee in my diet. Of course moderation is the key.