Benefits of Ghee vs. Butter

Ghee, also known as clarified butter, is a product which is used primarily in India. It has become a product of increasing interest to people in the United States because it is said to be a healthy alternative to butter. Ghee offers the same basic taste as butter but some of the fat has been removed from the butter which is why many people believe that it's a better product and should be used as a butter substitute.

Here are some of the benefits of ghee that people have cited over the years; you'll have to try them for yourself to determine whether or not they are true:

• Better for people with cholesterol problems. It is said that ghee is lower in fat than butter which means that it's a better choice for people who have problems with high cholesterol.
• Doesn't burn easily. If you're the kind of person who burns everything that you cook then you have probably burned butter in the past. You are not likely to have that problem with ghee.
• Easier to digest. Because there is less fat in ghee, it is easier for most people to digest than butter is.
• Longer shelf life. Ghee can be stored for a long period of time, longer than butter can, and it doesn't need to be refrigerated when it is stored. This makes it more convenient than butter and better in some people's eyes.
• Mental health. People who believe in the healing powers of ghee say that it can restore balance to the mind and enhance brain function.
• Relief for burns. Many people still believe that you can put butter on burns to soothe them. Try it and you'll quickly learn that butter keeps the heat in and hurts a whole heck of a lot. That's not the case with ghee which can be used on burns.
• Religious importance. Historically ghee has been used in a number of religious ceremonies and rituals. As a result, there are some people who prefer ghee precisely because it has religious significance.
• Skin improvements. Many people swear by the fact that ghee helps to promote a healthy glow to the skin from the inside out. That may or may not be true but there certainly isn't anyone who will tell you that butter does that!
• Tastes better. This is obviously a personal preference but many people say that they like the taste of ghee better than the taste of butter because it's a lighter taste.
• Weight loss aid. There are many people who believe that ghee stimulates the digestive system and actually causes people to lose weight just by eating it. It's probably not a good idea to go on a ghee-only diet but you might want to factor this in when weighing fatty butter against the use of ghee.

Whether or not ghee is better than butter really depends on what features you are considering. Ghee is lower in fat than butter but it still contains saturated fat and isn't healthy to eat in large quantities. Some people believe that there are various healing powers to ghee but others will say that's not true. In the end, it really boils down to a personal preference.