I thought that once I went on the Endo Diet, I’d said goodbye to butter. It fell into the dreaded dairy category. That which brings bloating, gas and sticky poo, LOL.
Instead of using butter in my cooking, I switched to oils. Then I found out that a lot of oils are not stable enough to cook with. When heated past their smoke point, most oils become rancid and toxic for consumption.
This causes stress and inflammation in your body and triggers negative prostaglandins, which play a big role in endometriosis pain.
There are some oils that have a higher smoke point, such as safflower, canola, grape seed, peanut or soy bean, but these choices are very processed and can cause further inflammatory reactions.
There are some choices that are better at high heats, like coconut oil, which holds many other healing properties too. I love coconut oil, but the flavor just doesn’t go well with everything.
Cue the introduction of ghee.
Ghee: It’s Really Good for You!
I first heard about ghee when I started to explore the ancient healing practice of Ayurveda.
I was curious about trying this said healing elixir. I looked for it countless times at the grocery store with no avail, so the thought of trying it slipped away.
Until it kept popping back into my focus, like, “Hey, Aubree, you MUST try this!”
So, in my last Amazon order I added some grass-fed organic ghee to my cart.
When it was delivered, I pulled the jar of yellowish liquid out of the box, and my husband looked at me with questioning eyes.
“It’s really good for you,” I said. (My usual response).
He gave me a skeptical look as I put it in the pantry.
“It doesn’t need to be refrigerated?”
“No.”
The question popped up again a few days later.
“You’re sure that doesn’t need to be refrigerated?”
Ha.
No. Seriously.
“It’s like butter, without the milk.”
This didn’t help his skepticism and my candid, “It’s good for you response,” was not enough of a sell for him.
So, for his sake and ours, allow me to explain why ghee is something that should be added to your kitchen cabinet too 🙂
What is Ghee?
Let’s back up a bit since this may be the first time you are hearing about ghee. What is it?
Ghee is clarified butter. It’s made by boiling off the milk solids from unsalted butter, leaving behind the golden oil.
Since the milk is removed from ghee, those of us who have lactose or casein issues should have no issues with it.
And since there is no milk in it, it does not need to be refrigerated. It does not spoil easily.
So, essentially, you get the taste of butter without the yucky side effects of the dairy component, plus it truly is good for you. Let’s explore more why…
Ghee & Your Digestive Tract
As I mentioned, ghee has roots in Ayurveda, where it is considered to be a sacred, cleansing and nourishing food.
In Ayurveda, ghee is considered to be a healing ingredient since it very much supports the health of your digestive tract. Nearly 80% of your immune system is located in the lining of your gut.
Ghee contains an essential short chain fatty acid called butyric acid. Your intestinal tract thrives on butyric acid. If you have an unhealthy digestive tract then you likely do not produce enough of it.
The beneficial microbes in your gut use butyric acid for energy and it’s also a primary component for supporting the health and integrity of the wall of your intestines.
Ghee helps stimulate your liver to make new bile, which helps to move out harmful toxins and chemical estrogens from your body. Ghee pulls out stored fat soluble toxins out of your body and back into your intestines for removal.
Ghee also helps stimulate stomach acid, which helps with digestion. Other fats, such as straight up butter and other oils do the opposite. They slow down digestion and sit heavy in your stomach, causing bloating and discomfort.
Other Healing Benefits of Ghee
In addition to the healing benefits ghee provides to your gut, it also contains Omega 3 and Omega 9 essential fatty acids. When taken in the proper balance, this deters inflammation in your body.
Ghee lubricates and softens hardened tissues in your body, so it helps with sore joints.
Ghee also provides vitamins A, D, E and K along with a host of antioxidants and it acts as an aid in the absorption of vitamins and minerals from other foods.
Ghee is a very healthy fat. It is rich in medium chain fatty acids, which are absorbed directly to your liver, providing sustained energy and stable moods.
On the Positive Side?
I’ve tried out ghee a couple of times since I got it and I’m so happy that I have this added flavor back in my cooking! While it’s not exactly the same taste of butter, it is very similar.
I feel better about having another heat stable oil option and am excited to introduce this super healing agent to more of my meals.
Have you tried ghee? Is it a regular part of your diet? I’d love to hear your experience in the comments below.
Thanks for this really interesting information. I only use coconut oil for cooking and knew that ghee is also safe to cook with but I had no idea about all its impressive benefits so I intend to start using it. I might even make my own. I avoided it because of concerns about dairy but you’ve put my mind at rest.
Even olive oil degenerates when heated and produces carcinogenic toxins which many people are unaware of. I only ever use it unheated in salads.
Awesome. I stopped cooking with olive oil awhile ago after learning the same thing. Hope the ghee helps 🙂
Ghee keeps popping up for me, too, so maybe it’s time to pull the trigger, so to speak. Just curious about how it still is so beneficial in such small quantities.
Thanks!
Hi Meredith – I know that in Ayurveda they do use larger quantities of it as a cleansing mechanism, though I’m not sure on all the specifics with that.
I have been using ghee for the past 6 months following the advices of an amazing gynecologist who game me lots of nutritional tips in order to control pain. I did some lab tests a couple of weeks ago and my cholesterol levels, even though they were not high, just dropped down amazingly.
I prepare the ghee myself (youtube tutorial!) and it’s really good. I have never tried the one that is already prepared though.
Thanks for this Post about Ghee and its benefits. But I have a question here. I was told that the Dairy products are not good for endometriosis and I have asked my Wife to completely avoid that. But you have told that Ghee is good for endometriosis. Isn’t Ghee a dairy product? Can the people who have endometriosis consume Ghee?
Hi Ragu –
Ghee is a dairy product, however, since the milk is removed, those of us who have lactose or casein issues should have no issues with it. These are the pieces that usually cause issues with digestion and other reactions. It’s important to go with organic, grass-fed to avoid added hormones.
Ghee has so many healing benefits for digestion, which is the path to improving her immune system and giving her body the best environment to heal. It’s a very healthy fat. I’ve been consuming ghee with endometriosis with no issues and know other ladies who’ve had success with it.
I’ve used ghee as a replacement for some time now….I absolutely love it!
Thx for all the extra health info…learned some new things!
Awesome. Thanks for sharing Tess. Sending Love.
I’ve been using Ghee for cooking for some time now – came to it the same way as you, through Ayurveda and going on a detox after my health and stomach issues had gotten so bad that I was projectile vomiting after eating even the most basic things.
I’ve had Endo for years and believe changing my diet has been the single most supportive thing for pain, my immune system, my emotional state and general physical health.
Huge ghee fan here!
Cook a tonne of curries and veg dishes with it. Highly recommend mung bean curries too – my gut seems to really love them.
Knew it was great, but didn’t realise just how awesome! Thanks for this article x
Awesome Holly. Thanks for sharing.
hi, is it safe to have the regular brands you buy in supermarkets? I thought ghee was a endo enemy until i started hearing things and then came across your article. My question is the standard ones you see in the supermarkets are they still safe and ok to use?
Natural grocers or any whole good store will have good organic ghee . Don’t buy non-organic ghee from regular Asian stores .It will do more harm than good because most of them contain a fat called vanaspati. Ghee is called clarified butter in English.