A healthy and well-rounded balanced diet includes carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. These macronutrients are all essential in providing the body with all the nutrients it needs to function normally.

When it comes to fats, there are often misconceptions; namely that they are unhealthy and should be avoided at all costs, especially when it comes to saturated fats like butter and ghee.

However, the body needs a certain amount of fat, as they aid in the absorption of other essential vitamins, such as Vitamins A, D & K.

Dietary fats are also essential as they provide the body with energy and are the building blocks of maintaining certain hormones that help control appetite and manage our body’s metabolism.

Other benefits, mainly those pertaining to essential fatty acids (omega-3 & 6) are crucial for overall brain health.

Therefore, and contrary to popular belief, cutting fat out of our diets entirely can be detrimental to our health and overall well-being.

And when it comes to cooking, fat is an essential ingredient. Not only does it improve flavour, but using it in moderation when cooking is actually an easier and effective way of incorporating it into our diets and achieving the health benefits associated with them.

Now for the truth about butter and ghee, two very commonly used fats in cooking, but also considered to be quite an unhealthy choice. As a result, many of us think twice about using them and often substitute with ‘healthier’ alternatives.

But every once in a while, don’t you ever stop and think to yourself: ‘the French cook with butter every day, and they seem to get away with it’, or ‘my mother used ghee in her cooking all the time when we were kids and we still grew up healthy’. I suppose, like with most things, the answer is moderation.

Read on however for just a few more useful facts that may help you make more informed decisions in future.

Butter and ghee, when consumed in moderation, can be a part of a balanced diet. They contain essential vitamins like A, D, and K, and they do in fact contain healthy fats.

Yes, it is true that they do also contain saturated fats, which can affect cholesterol levels. However, recent research suggests that the relationship between dietary saturated fats and cholesterol levels is more complex than previously thought, and is found to be more attributed to family history and stress than diet, especially when consumed in moderation.

If you’re wondering which is better for you, the truth is both have similar nutritional profiles and have the same health benefits. When it comes to cooking at high heat, ghee has an advantage over butter because it has a higher smoke point, and is a better choice for those intolerant to dairy as it has a lower lactose content than butter.

In short, use these ingredients sparingly and never in abundance.  They do serve some essential health benefits, so there is absolutely no need to cut them out entirely… Unless of course, advised otherwise by your GP.

So, the next time you feel like adding a little butter to your omelette, or a little ghee, don’t overthink it, a little teaspoon won’t kill you. Just go ahead and enjoy!

To understand just a little bit more, I found the below article to be very helpful. It’s informative yet concise and works as a good guideline for those of you who are still trying to figure this out!

https://www.verywellhealth.com/ghee-vs-butter-7098500

Next, get on the yufeed app now and check out some great recipes using these fats – all of which you will find, use very minimal amounts, which goes to show that a little goes a long way! Bon Appetit!