ghee | Consumer Voice

Say no to vanaspati (ghee)

by cv | Jan 10, 2021 | ghee

Vanaspati is an industrial product and formed by partial hydrogenation of refined edible vegetable oil or oils. Hydrogenated oils are more stable than corresponding natural oils. They are not only stable and make the fried food product last longer but also adds taste. The reason being, there is widespread use of vanaspati in commercial products such as slices of bread, rusks, cookies, cream biscuits, sweets, and fried snacks.

Why food manufacturers use vanaspati?

To save money.
Extend the shelf life of food products.
Add texture to food products.
To increase the stability of food products.

To know how Consumer VOICE is focusing on the Draft Notifications of FSSAI to generate awareness on trans fats, click here

What changes take place after Hydrogenation?

Hydrogenation converts liquid vegetable oils into solid or semi-solid fats. Changing the degree of saturation of the fat changes some important physical properties, such as the melting point, which is why liquid oils become semi-solid. Partial hydrogenation of oil/oils also produces trans fat, also known as Trans Fatty Acids (TFAs).

For more information Trans fat draft regulation and how trans fat can affect you health, get the latest digital copy of Consumer VOICE.

Click here to know more

Say no to vanaspati (ghee)

Vanaspati is an industrial product and formed by partial hydrogenation of refined edible vegetable oil or oils. Hydrogenated oils are more...

Benefits of Cow Ghee

Ghee is a clarified type of butter, meaning that it has been simmered into a concentrate and the residue has been removed. What remains is basically...

It’s Desi all the way – the best desi ghee brand

Also known as clarified butter, desi ghee is almost an inevitable ingredient in Indian households. Ghee is brushed generously over rotis and...

Benefits of Cow Ghee

by cv | Jan 10, 2021 | ghee

Ghee is a clarified type of butter, meaning that it has been simmered into a concentrate and the residue has been removed. What remains is basically a pure combination of fats, without any milk residue, which means that it does not need to be refrigerated. We understand what is Ghee made up of, the difference between Vitamin A and Beta-carotene and its numerous benefits. For example-great skin health, thick hair growth to boosting our immune system and weight gain.

Due to variation in its composition from region to region and season to season, depending on the type of animal and the feed given, the establishment of its purity often involves elaborate analysis, as well as tests for it’s keeping quality. Let’s understand the physical properties of Ghee.

Physical Observations of Ghee

Ghee shall be free from excess moisture.
On melting, the ghee shall be clear, transparent and free from sediment or foreign colouring matter.
A good ghee sample should have well-developed granules dispersed fairly, thickly and uniformlyover the entire mass. A bright yellow colour, caused by the presence of carotenoid pigments (beta carotene), is associated with cow ghee and constitutes a desirable criterion in areas where it is preferred. Buffalo ghee is white in colour. Sometimes, it may also have a greenish tinge depending on the region and feeding schedule. Ghee from mixed milk has a straw-yellow colour. The colour of fats always appears deeper to the eyes when melted than when in solid form.

Physical observations on the 14 desi ghee and cow ghee samples were made by Consumer VOICE experts, checking for colour and texture and whether they were free from sediment and objectionable flavour. Check the results for Desi Ghee and Cow Ghee.

Ghee is rich source of Vitamins

Ghee is a carrier of the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K, which our body needs in very small quantities but cannot make for itself. These vitamins perform many essential functions. Similarly, the essential fatty acids, which cannot be synthesised in our body, are also supplied by ghee.

The human body converts beta-carotene into vitamin A (retinol) – beta-carotene is a precursor of vitamin A.

Vitamin A and Beta Carotene Difference

Beta-carotene is a yellow/orange pigment found mostly in fruits and vegetables, especially carrot, mango, papaya, orange, apricot, melon, tomato, pumpkin and spinach. For beta carotene, the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for an adult is 4,800 milligrams/day.

It is found in Ghee as well and it comes from the cows’ diet, which consists mostly of dried grass, grass, grains and cereals.

The amount of beta-carotene in cow ghee depends on a few factors including cow’s breed; cow feed (grass-fed dairy produce contain more beta-carotene than cows that are fed grains); the season of the year; and the biological makeup of milk throughout the lactation period. This is of great benefit to our bodies.

Here are some of the key health benefits of Vitamin A and Beta carotene supplements:

It is critical for good vision
It plays an important role in healthy bone growth
It is essential for reproduction
It plays a role in cell division and cell growth
It supports the immune system
It supports skin and hair health

Cow Ghee Health Benefits

Ghee is termed as a ‘superfood’ because of its numerous benefits. Let’s take a closer look at this ancient butter substitute to see what it really contributes to human health.

Boosts Energy

For athletes or other people with active, high-energy lifestyles, ghee can provide the necessary burst of energy that you might need to get through a challenging day.

Reduces Allergy

Since ghee is dairy-free, lactose intolerant individuals or those who cannot consume butter are free to enjoy the flavorful treat of “butter” in the form of ghee.

Heart Health

Although most people associate butter with fat and a decline in heart health, the rich variety of fats in ghee can provide a healthy boost to the heart. Omega-3 fatty acids can help decrease your levels of unhealthy cholesterol and provide an energetic balance to your fat intake.

Reduces Inflammation

Ghee possesses butyric acid, which is one of the most beneficial short-chain fatty acids that the body needs. Butyric acid has been shown, in recent research, to actually decrease inflammation in parts of the body, particularly in the gastrointestinal tract, and has been used in traditional medicine for treating inflammation of all kinds.

Improves Skin and Hair Health

Ghee helps moisturising the skin, hydrating the skin and brightening. Also known to slow down skin raging; massage into skin daily for results.

It has great benefit on your hair – stimulates hair growth( used to massage your scalp) , it helps reduce split ends and conditions your hair ; shampooing your hair can lead to shiny tresses.

Side Effects or Disadvantages of Ghee:

All of the benefits mentioned above make ghee sound like an ideal substitute for butter; however, ghee is made purely of fat, so excessive consumption of ghee can dramatically change your fat intake. Be careful about your ghee intake.

Say no to vanaspati (ghee)

Vanaspati is an industrial product and formed by partial hydrogenation of refined edible vegetable oil or oils. Hydrogenated oils are more...

Benefits of Cow Ghee

Ghee is a clarified type of butter, meaning that it has been simmered into a concentrate and the residue has been removed. What remains is basically...

It’s Desi all the way – the best desi ghee brand

Also known as clarified butter, desi ghee is almost an inevitable ingredient in Indian households. Ghee is brushed generously over rotis and...

It’s Desi all the way – the best desi ghee brand

by cv | Jan 9, 2021 | ghee

Also known as clarified butter, desi ghee is almost an inevitable ingredient in Indian households. Ghee is brushed generously over rotis and parathas, poured on rice and pualo and even used in dal and other vegetables. A jar of desi ghee is almost a must in the kitchen. But which is the best one? Which brand of desi ghee will give you more value? Consumer VOICE has made the task easier by evaluating top 12 brands of desi ghee and identifying the best one for you.

Why has ghee gained popularity

Ghee is said to have some anti-cancer properties and also an important carrier of fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) and essential fatty-acids. Ghee is believed to be capable of increasing mental power, physical appearance, curative of ulcers and eye diseases. However, ghee is ultimately a form of fat, so moderate use of ghee is always recommended.

Testing of Ghee by Consumer VOICE

The prime objective behind carrying out the comparative study was to assess and evaluate the popular brands of desi ghee available in the market as per the relevant national standard. All the tested brands were evaluated and graded as per their overall performance based on the comprehensive lab test reports. The brands were being tested on various quality, safety and acceptability parameters.

The key parameters for which the ghee brands were tested included milk fat, R M value, BR Reading, Moisture, Per oxide value, Free fatty acid, vitamins A and saturated fat, PUFA, MUFA, cholesterol and trans fat. We also carried out a series of tests to check for adulteration (with vanaspati, animal fats, etc.).

Some known and unknown facts of desi ghee

Ghee should be free from excess moisture.
On melting, the ghee should be clear, transparent and free from sediment or foreign colouring matter.
A good ghee sample should have well-developed granules dispersed fairly, thickly and uniformly over the entire mass. A bright yellow colour, caused by the presence of carotenoid pigments (beta carotene), is associated with cow ghee and constitutes a desirable criterion in areas where it is preferred. Buffalo ghee is white in colour. Sometimes, it may also have a greenish tinge depending on the region and feeding schedule. Ghee made from mixed milk has a straw-yellow colour. The colour of fats always appears deeper to the eyes when melted than when in solid form.

Physical observations on the 12 samples were made by laboratory scientists, checking for colour and texture and whether they were free from sediment and objectionable flavour.

The brands which were tested in government approved labs include Anik, Paras, Milkfood, Madhusudhan, Fresh & Pure, Nestle, Mother Dairy, Verka, Amul, Heritage, Ananda and Britannia. They were tested based on parameters like Trans fats, Saturated fats, Cholesterol, Vitamin A, and Milk Fat among others. Though all brands have met the standard requirement and are safe for consumption, yet to know the best, get the latest copy of Consumer VOICE Magazine.

Say no to vanaspati (ghee)

Vanaspati is an industrial product and formed by partial hydrogenation of refined edible vegetable oil or oils. Hydrogenated oils are more...

Benefits of Cow Ghee

Ghee is a clarified type of butter, meaning that it has been simmered into a concentrate and the residue has been removed. What remains is basically...

It’s Desi all the way – the best desi ghee brand

Also known as clarified butter, desi ghee is almost an inevitable ingredient in Indian households. Ghee is brushed generously over rotis and...

Cow Ghee – How pure is your ghee?

by cv | Jan 9, 2021 | ghee

Indian cuisines are famous for its delectable taste and aroma. Thanks to our age-old cooking tradition that uses a lot of spices and desi ghee. Desi ghee or cow ghee makes our tadka dal savory, mutton biryani lip-smacking and our paranthas complete. Besides the taste and aroma, cow ghee is good for health too.

During the lockdown, Indians had been busy experimenting with different cuisines and one item that has been used vigorously is cow ghee. It is a carrier of fat-soluble vitamins including A, D, E and K, which our bodies need in very small quantities but can’t make for itself. These vitamins perform many essential functions.

These vitamins perform many essential functions. Similarly, the essential fatty acids, which cannot be synthesized in our body, are also supplied by ghee. Cow ghee is the pure clarified fat-derived solely from milk or curd or desi butter or from cream to which no colouring matter flavor or preservative gets added. Ghee is an important dairy product that enters inter-state trade too. Due to variation in its composition from region to region and season to season and also because it depends on the type of animal and the feed given, the establishment of its purity often involves elaborate analysis, as well as tests for its keeping quality.

Why cow ghee is more yellow?

Cow ghee is more yellow because of the pigment (the natural colouring matter of animal or plant tissue) beta-carotene. Beta- carotene comes from the cows’ diet, which consists mostly of dried grass, grass, grains and cereals. The amount of beta carotene in the cow ghee depends on a few factors:

Cow feed is the most important (grass-fed dairy products contain more beta carotene than cows who are fed grains).

Cow’s breed.

The season of the year is also important. The biological makeup of milk changes throughout the lactation period.

Disclaimer:

As there is no validated test method to authentic cow ghee, we could not carry out authentication tests. Comparative testing was conducted as per prescribed parameters in national standard for Ghee.

Consumer VOICE team this time singled out 11 popular /regular selling cow ghee brands and tested on different parameters including vitamin A, milk fat, adulteration, flavor and taste among others.

So the next time you are going to buy your cow ghee, make sure you are acquainted with the correct information. To know what constituents make the cow ghee brand best for you, get a copy of the report from the Consumer VOICE magazine.