One of Ayurveda's most treasured foods, ghee has incredible healing properties. From our dal, khichdi to halwas and chapatti; ghee is one kitchen staple we are never getting enough of. In fact, swapping ghee with fattening refined oils has perhaps been one of the biggest blunders of the modern cooking, according to Macrobiotic Nutritionist and Health Practitioner Shilpa Arora. According to her, "Ghee consists of fat soluble vitamins, which aid weight loss. Ghee also plays a key role in balancing hormones and maintaining healthy cholesterol. Ghee also has a high heat point, which prevents it from producing free radicals that damage cell function." Ghee is clarified butter made from the milk of a buffalo or cow. Pure desi ghee, is ghee made of cow's milk. It contains plenty of omega-3 fatty acids along with Vitamin A. Beyond our kitchens, ghee finds a coveted space in beauty and hair care rituals too.

1. Helps You Keep Warm From Within

Ghee is an integral part of Indian winters. According to Ayurveda, ingesting ghee helps you keep warm from within; which is perhaps why it is extensively used in many winter preparations likegajar ka halwa, moong dal halwa, pinni and panjeeri.

2. For Clogged Nose

There is nothing pleasant about cold and clogged nose. You have difficulty in breathing; your taste sense is hampered, and let's not forget the headache and exhaustion that follows. Ayurveda has an interesting nasal drop remedy that may help soothe clogged nose. Ayurvedic experts call it the Nyasa treatment for cold and it involves pouring a few drops of warm pure cow ghee into the nostrils, first thing in the morning. Doing so may provide quick relief as the ghee travels all the way down to the throat and soothes the infection. Make sure, the ghee is pure and warmed to lukewarm temperature.

3. Good Source Of Energy

According to the book, 'Healing Foods' by DK Publishing House, ghee is a good source of energy. It contains medium and short-chain fatty acids, "of which, lauric acid is a potent antimicrobial and antifungal substance." Nursing mothers are often given ladoos loaded with ghee, since they are loaded with energy.Pinni is another Punjabi treat, which is relished across North India, not just for its taste but for its energy boosting properties too.

4. Source Of Good Fat

Are you on a weight loss spree? You may have heard a lot of people coming up with a pro-tip or two. And one of the most common weight loss tips we have all heard is- avoid fats. In a bid to lose weight, you may have even considered eliminating all fats sources from your diet. But doing so may do you more harm than good. Fats, carbs and proteins are three macronutrients that are essential for sustaining a healthy life. Removing any food group from your diet is never a sustainable way to lose weight. What you do need to do however is - choose better. Avoid all bad fats in fries, burgers and processed junk, and choose better alternatives in the form of ghee, avocados etc. According to Shilpa Arora, ghee is one of the most preferred vehicles for oleation: a process of ingesting oil over a period of time. This actually helps pull fat soluble toxins out of the cells and triggers fat metabolism, a process where the body kick-starts to burn its own fat for fuel.

5. Good For Intestinal Health:

Shilpa also shares with us, that ghee happens to be one of the highest quality food sources of butyric acid, which makes it an ideal pick to support the health of the intestinal walls. The cells of the colon use butyric acid as their preferred source of energy.