THE EVOLUTION OF LIQUID GOLD; GHEE

Considered one of the healthiest and most treasured milk products, Ghee has been a part of Indian traditional cooking for ages. Further, Ayurveda also acknowledges pure ghee as one of the most sattvic foods that can heal and nourish the body inside out. 

Sadly, the consumption of this exceptionally healthy ghee has declined over the years. People are more convinced and attracted to refined cooking oil and have eliminated ghee completely from their diet. 

Through this piece of writing let’s understand and revive the lost rich heritage of ghee and its evolution in India. 

What is Ghee?

Needless to mention that ghee is clarified butter. In general, It is prepared by separating the milk solids and the butterfat while cooking out the water of cow or buffalo milk. 

Enriched with fat soluble vitamins A, D, E, K, and many other important nutrients, ghee is considered one the most nutrient-dense food. 

Traditionally, cow ghee has been used not just to prepare a variety of dishes but also as an important body massaging ingredient that relieves pain and muscular stiffness.

History of Ghee

Commonly used in cuisines of the Indian subcontinent and middle east, ghee has its roots long back around 1500-500 BCE in India. It was the time when the domestication of cattle and the consumption of butter first began. Soon people began to sell butter and the need to carry butter from distance primarily for trade, led to the birth of butter that has a longer shelf life – i.e Ghee. 

Ever since ancient times, ghee has been popularly used as an important ingredient for cooking as well as to perform ritual duties.

Importance of Ghee in Ancient India

In a country like India, ghee has been considered one of the holiest food ingredients that form the core of authentic Indian cooking. Since the inception of mankind, ghee has been considered the ‘first and the most essential of all foods’. Traditionally, ghee was the only ‘cooking oil’ available. From Maharajas to the general public, ghee was used to add aroma, flavor, and taste to the food. Cow ghee was further used as an important medicinal ingredient that would heal cuts, wounds, and open bruises of soldiers who would go to war.

Ghee has a long history of being used as an important offering to God and as the last ritual to be offered to the deceased man. Further, in traditional ayurvedic therapies ghee has been used to detox the body, lubricate joints, ease muscular stress and alkalize the body. 

Ghee is loaded with good fat and has been used as the most effective household remedy for relieving constipation or difficult bowel movement. In fact. In ancient India, ghee was prescribed as a ‘medicine’ for strengthening digestion and colon health.

How was Traditional Ghee Prepared? 

Bilona Method is one of the most traditional Vedic methods of making pure, healthy ghee. In this process, the first step is to boil the raw milk to ensure that the milk is free from bacteria. This milk is then used to make curd through overnight curdling. Once the curd is set, it is kept in a cool place, preferably in an earthen pot. Further, this curd is churned using a traditional wood churner (bilona). After hours of churning, curd separates into buttermilk and butter. 

The butter or Makhan is gently separated from the buttermilk and is heated on a medium-high flame to obtain high-quality ghee. 

Bilona method is a time taking and tiresome process of obtaining ghee but this is definitely the best and most authentic way of extracting nutrition-loaded pure ghee. 

What is the difference between traditional Cow Ghee and Buffalo Ghee? 

• The fat content of buffalo ghee is 7-8.5% while that of cow ghee is 3-4.5%

• Cow ghee is naturally yellow in color, lighter in texture, tastes delicious, and is divinely aromatic while buffalo milk is white in color, heavier in texture, and less aromatic as compared to cow ghee. 

• Cow ghee remains liquid at body temperature while the ghee of a buffalo remains slightly solid.

• Buffalo ghee is rich in fat and can be stored for a longer period of time, whereas cow ghee can not be stored for a longer span of time. 

• Ghee from cows primarily contains vitamins, protein, calcium, and minerals while buffalo ghee is rich in magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus. 

• Being antifungal and antibacterial in nature, cow ghee can be applied to open wounds. On the contrary, buffalo ghee is deprived of antifungal and antibacterial properties.  

• Ever since ancient times, those who wish to gain weight or build muscle mass have primarily relied more on buffalo ghee while those who aim to get lean or reduce weight trust more on cow ghee. 

Buffalo ghee or cow ghee, both are great. Choosing one over another depends largely on a person’s health and fitness goals. 

How Healthy Traditional Ghee Got Replaced with Refined Cooking Oils?

The first and major market revolution in the field of cooking oil came in 1937 with the launch of pocket-friendly hydrogenated vegetable oil or vanaspati, popularly known as “Dalda”. This cooking oil was prepared through the process of hydrogenation with the intent to improve the melting point of the oil. This further helped to give the general public an illusion that ‘Dalda’ is close to desi ghee or perhaps it is ghee. Further, more brands sprung up keeping the illusion intact for the consumers. 

Gradually, traditionally bilona ghee got lost as it was replaced with Dalda, Rath, Hanuman, etc. 

The majority of Indian households preferred Dalda or other vegetable oils for cooking food as it was much cheaper than ghee. Plus, they have a fair misconception that ghee and vegetable cooking oil is the same. 

Further, new brands bloomed and they came up with marketing strategies that would say that ‘ghee is unhealthy’! In spite of spreading the awareness that Dalda or vegetable oil is not ghee and that dalda is unhealthy, most or all of the new brands created a market that convinced consumers that ghee is bad fat and that it clogs arteries and should be avoided for safeguarding heart’s health. 

Sadly, as years passed, refined vegetable oils strengthened their roots in India and most of the other nations too. 

Benefits of Consuming Traditional Bilona Ghee 

Being one of the most satvik foods of Ayurveda, ghee has been considered an age-old remedy for all sorts of health ailments. Some of the key health benefits of ghee include

• Strengthen Bones

Ghee contains fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K that help to keep the bones and muscles strong. Experts recommend that consuming ghee in moderation helps to prevent bone degeneration and inflammation. This keeps the bones and joints strong, nourished, and healthy.

• Builds Immunity

A healthy gut is the root of strong immunity. Ghee promotes a healthy gut which ultimately helps to build and boost immunity. Pure ghee contains powerful antioxidants that help to boost the immune system by eliminating free radicals and their harmful effects on the body. 

• Safeguards Heart Health

Ghee contains Omega -3 fatty acids (HDL) that help to lower cholesterol and bad fat (LDL) from the blood. This helps to keep the arteries unclogged and fat-free. Consuming cow ghee in moderation assures that the fat and cholesterol in the body are maintained. 

• Relieves Constipation

Ghee is one of the best sources of butyric acid (fatty acid) that is naturally great for supporting the health of the intestinal wall. Pure ghee works as a mild lubricant that eases the intestinal tract, smoothening the fecal passage. This helps to relieve constipation or irregular bowel movement.

• Heals and Hydrates Skin 

Ghee contains minerals that help to replenish and heal skin inside and out. A2 gir cow ghee helps to maintain moisture and the natural pH of the skin by balancing the essential oils present in the skin. Cow ghee can also be applied directly to the skin for healing and soothing dehydrated, irritated skin. 

Take Away: Getting Back to Roots

Ghee is one of the most treasured foods in Indian cuisine. Ever since ancient times, ghee has been used in every Indian household kitchen to cook or decorate food. 

However, with the passage of time, the traditional craze of ghee has lost its shine. A lot of misconceptions and wrong information regarding the negative health effects associated with the intake of ghee have sprung up. This is one of the key reasons why people have shifted towards refined cooking oil. 

Bilona ghee was, is, and will always be the best thing to invest in your health. Loaded with good fat that helps to lower cholesterol and keeps the heart healthy, pure bilona ghee is best for people of all age groups. 

In order to be able to stay healthy and fit, It’s required to get back to the roots, by switching to nature’s boon – bilona ghee!