Weight loss: This is how ghee helps you burn belly fat

It is a common perception that ghee is unhealthy or fattening; turns out, it may not be the case.

Indian households cannot do without their share of ghee; whether it is for adding flavour to delicacies or using it for medicinal purposes. While it is a great ingredient for benefitting overall health, ghee is said to help lose weight and burn belly fat.

A study was conducted to understand the fatty acid composition in ghee. It was found that ghee is a good source of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). DHA is the most popular omega 3 fatty acid. Omega 3 is the essential fat that we need to consume from our diet as our body cannot make it. Walnuts, fish oil and flaxseeds are some good sources of omega 3 fatty acid.

Ghee, if made at home from cow's milk, is full of essential nutrients that are known to promote overall health. It is true that desi ghee consists of saturated fats and, therefore, can be unhealthy but only if eaten in huge amounts - this is why many nutritionists and health experts recommend consuming not more than two or three spoons of ghee in a day.

Digestion is the key to losing weight. While most vegetable or cooking oils are likely to slow down your body's digestive system, fats in ghee stimulate it and make it better. So, adding a dash of ghee in your food may not be that bad.

Ghee does not have lactose and casein, people who are lactose intolerant or cannot digest dairy can easily consume it. Moreover, ghee consists of essential amino acids that may help the fat cells to shrink in size.

Other than that, one of the most important benefits of ghee is that it comes packed with omega-6 fatty acid called conjugated linolenic acid (CLA), which is known to help in modifying our body's composition and reduce body fat levels, further helping you shed weight.

Various studies have found that ghee helps in mobilising fat cells to be burnt for energy, further helping them to reduce fat mass and increase lean body mass.
 

But remember that anything in excess is bad. Make sure you don't consume ghee more than two to three teaspoons a day. Always consult your doctor before adding it to your daily diet. Regardless of its many health promoting properties, consume ghee in moderation as it is high in saturated fats.