Cholesterol in Ghee‍

Ghee has been used in Ayurveda for ages because of the numerous health benefits it possesses. One of the major concerns around ghee is how it affects your cholesterol level. Ghee, which is also called clarified butter, is beneficial for health when consumed rationally. If you are having high cholesterol levels, then consuming foods with saturated fats and high cholesterol content will worsen your condition. However, when it comes to ghee, you can take it in moderation even though it contains saturated fats because it provides several health benefits.

While ghee is a good source of healthy fats and has been found to improve lipid profile, it should be consumed in moderation by individuals with high cholesterol levels. Ghee in diabetes, may help regulate blood sugar levels and promote insulin sensitivity, but it should still be consumed in moderation due to its high calorie and saturated fat content.‍

Ghee and cholesterol - All you need to know

People prone to high cholesterol levels should be mindful of their eating choices. High-fat foods are the trigger to spike cholesterol levels but ghee is often mistaken by people to be bad for health. In fact, ghee cholesterol can help you in maintaining ideal cholesterol levels when you consume it in the right quantity. Ghee cholesterol when consumed rationally along with following other dietary recommendations, you’ll soon see the health benefits you will start to reap. Heedlessly consuming anything will harm your health. The same applies to ghee. Make sure you consume pure cow ghee in moderation to get the best out of it. 

Unfortunately, there are many myths about ghee consumption that need to be bunked. People stigmatize ghee as a high-fat and unhealthy option. However, the truth is ghee has been used for ages for the health benefits it has and pure cow ghee has made it to the healthy category of foods in the market. Added to that, in the west it is sold tremendously as clarified butter. 

To know the benefits of consuming ghee, you must understand the cholesterol in ghee. 

How Much Cholesterol Found in Ghee?

The cholesterol in ghee is good for the human body. Before knowing what type of cholesterol ghee has, here is what quantity of cholesterol is found in cow ghee and buffalo ghee. 

• Cow ghee cholesterol level- 0.32%
• Buffalo ghee cholesterol level- 0.27%

If you take 1 tablespoon of ghee it has 8 grams of saturated fats and around 32 mg of cholesterol. It is recommended by experts that if you have high cholesterol levels you should limit your daily ghee intake to less than 1-2 tsp each day. 

Our body has good cholesterol (HDL) and bad cholesterol (LDL). Too much LDL puts you at risk of having a heart disorder. Therefore, an increase in LDL is considered unhealthy. When you consume different foods, either of the cholesterol levels can change depending upon the nutrient quotient of it. When you intake grass-fed ghee in the right quantity, it increases the HDL (good cholesterol) and helps to reduce the LDL (bad cholesterol) in the blood. Hence, cholesterol in ghee is considered healthy. 

How does ghee affect cholesterol levels?

If you want to keep your cholesterol levels under control then moderate consumption of grass-fed ghee will cause you no harm. Consuming ghee in the correct quantities would not affect your LDL cholesterol  levels. 

Intaking 1-2 tablespoons of ghee combined with a healthy diet daily, you’ll be able to maintain cholesterol levels. Intake of ghee affects your cholesterol levels positively if you know what quantity suits best for your condition. As long as you follow an overall healthy diet, you can add a little quantity of ghee to your daily diet to reap its health benefits. 

 If you consume a balanced diet and eat ghee daily, your bad cholesterol won’t spike in many cases. However, if you live a sedentary life and your eating choices are poor and you consume ghee daily then your LDL levels will worsen. How the consumption of ghee impacts your cholesterol levels depends on the quantity you are consuming and other factors like your lifestyle, diet, etc. 

Does Ghee Increase Cholesterol?

 If you are consuming pure grass-fed ghee made using pure milk and the right manufacturing process and consuming a balanced diet daily then there are high chances that your cholesterol levels will not increase. Doing this will provide you with more benefits than damage. To prevent any raise in your cholesterol level the important thing is to be righteous of the quantity you are consuming and the way you add ghee to your diet. 

Cholesterol in ghee is usually good underlined; you are opting for organic and pure grass-fed ghee. Consumption of ghee in the morning with coffee can increase satiety and aid the weight loss process which can eventually help to keep your cholesterol level ideal. However, consuming ghee irrationally along with living a sedentary lifestyle can lead to high cholesterol levels. 

Is ghee good or bad for cholesterol?

Ghee is cholesterol-friendly even though it belongs to high-fat-content foods. When you think of adding ghee to your diet in the right quantity and make sure you add pure ghee, then it won’t spike your cholesterol levels, added to that, you’ll see the digestive benefits it will bring along. As per studies, it was revealed that the cholesterol level and healthy fat present in the body is maintained in people who consume ghee rather than mustard oil. 

Cholesterol in ghee is majorly HDL which is good cholesterol required by the body to get rid of the bad cholesterol. Ghee and cholesterol relation should not be considered totally negative if you know the correct quantity and process to consume it. 

Bottomline

Many myths about ghee consumption have been debunked by researchers. Ghee provides essential vitamins and nutrients to the body which makes it suitable for a nutritious and balanced diet. The best part is that you can make numerous recipes using ghee that will taste delicious. Whether consuming ghee works in your favor depends on how righteously you are consuming it. 

Having antioxidant properties, the consumption of ghee can reduce the risk of certain cancers, heart diseases, arthritis, etc. It can also help to keep your cholesterol levels maintained if you intake it in moderation. 

FAQ

1. Is ghee OK for high cholesterol?

If you have high cholesterol it is not suggested that you completely avoid ghee as it has numerous health benefits. However, as it has saturated fats you can limit it to consuming 2-3 tablespoons daily. Ghee in cholesterol is majorly HDL which doesn’t harm the overall cholesterol levels.

2. Is ghee bad for LDL?

 If you are consuming ghee in combination with a balanced diet and a physically active lifestyle, there is negligible risk of having high LDL levels. On the other hand, if you are living a sedentary lifestyle and consume ghee heedlessly then your LDL levels can get spiked and cause complications. 

3. Does cooking with ghee increase cholesterol?

No, cooking with ghee is not directly related to having high cholesterol levels. In fact, the high smoking point of ghee makes it a suitable medium for cooking and provides an advantage of cholesterol control. 

4. Does ghee cause high LDL?

Consumption of ghee causes high LDL only if you are consuming it way too much than required and have a sedentary lifestyle. When you consume ghee in moderation combined with a balanced diet it will not elevate your LDL levels. In fact, it will provide health benefits.