Understanding ghee
Ms. Sweedal Trinidade - Head of Nutrition Department at PD Hinduja & MRC Hospital (in Mumbai, India) said: "Researchers have shown that adding ghee to rice can improve the glycemic index of rice. meal".
Accordingly, ghee is a type of butter that is produced differently from other types of butter in the purification step and has the water and milk residue removed. Because it is refined butter, it has more fat than regular butter.
Ghee was originally used in Indian and Pakistani cultures. They create ghee for use and suitable for preservation in hot weather, especially in these lands.
According to Ms. Sweedal Trinidade, ghee contains fatty acids that slow down the digestion of carbohydrates, reducing blood sugar spikes. Adding ghee to rice can lower the rice's glycemic index, making rice a more stable source of energy.
Meanwhile, Ms. G Sushma - clinical nutritionist at CARE Hospital, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad (India) shared: Ghee is rich in fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K), which can Enhance absorption of nutrients from other foods eaten with rice.
Ms G Sushma added that ghee also contains butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid that is beneficial for gut health. A healthy gut can improve overall metabolic health, indirectly benefiting blood sugar control.
Who should avoid ghee?
Ms. G Sushma said that despite its many benefits, ghee may not be suitable for everyone. Because ghee is high in saturated fat, it can worsen people's susceptibility to high cholesterol or heart health problems.
Sharing the same opinion, Ms. Sweedal Trinidade explains: "Adding ghee to rice will increase calorie intake, potentially hindering weight control and disrupting your calorie restriction regimen."
Ms. G Sushma noted that people with cardiovascular disease should be careful because high levels of saturated fat can harm their health. People with milk allergies also need to be careful because ghee, although refined through processing, is still essentially a dairy product.
“The ideal amount of ghee to add to rice varies, but the general medically recommended guideline is to add 1 teaspoon of ghee per serving of rice,” says G Sushma.
Doctors and nutritionists recommend that it is important to note that ghee is not a substitute for a balanced diet and regular exercise.
Therefore, consult a healthcare professional or nutritionist for specific advice on how to control diabetes and how to incorporate ghee into your diet to brings the best results.
