Is ghee good or bad to give to your baby? The answer might surprise you

Shajil Kumar, a journalist, fondly recalls his childhood memories, where ghee played a significant role. His family used ghee in various dishes for both lunch and dinner. They would generously sprinkle ghee on steaming hot rotis or rice. The fact that Shajil and his family members hardly fell ill and had glowing skin and lustrous hair is a testimony to the benefits of ghee.

Ghee, the Indian clarified butter, is wonderfully aromatic, considered sacred, and used as the main ingredient in some Ayurvedic medicines.

Dr Ashok Kumar says consuming a spoon of ghee daily can be beneficial. But having it in excess can be harmful. He adds that ghee has certain properties that can even improve memory.

However, along with the many benefits of ghee for babies, many myths surround it too. It is harmful to health; it is fattening, and eating too much ghee can lead to blocked arteries; these are some common myths that many people have about ghee. But are they true? Let's take a look.

Ghee for babies: Good or bad

Benefits of ghee for infants

People often talk about how good ghee is for young children and adults, but we don't hear much about how it can benefit babies. So, does it mean that babies can't have ghee? Of course, they can, and here are a few benefits:

• Ghee is packed with a high amount of calories. This makes it the ideal food for your baby, who requires endless energy to grow and stay active.
• Massaging your baby after applying ghee to their body improves blood circulation and strengthens the bones.
• Adding a few drops of ghee to your baby's diet would improve her metabolism and aid digestion.
• Ghee prepared from cow's milk has immune-boosting properties. So, giving ghee to your child helps enhance her body's ability to ward off infections.
• Ghee has vitamins A, D, E, and K, which help boost brain and heart health.

When to include ghee in your baby's diet

With so many benefits of ghee for babies, you must be wondering when to include ghee in your baby's diet.

You can begin giving your baby ghee as they turn 6 to 7 months of age. This is the time when you start introducing them to solid foods. You can begin by adding ghee to her meal.

How much ghee can you give to your baby?

Ghee is packed with nutrients; including it in your baby's diet is essential. But too much of anything is bad, and this is the case with ghee. Excess ghee for babies can harm their health.

According to experts, you can add three to four drops of ghee to your baby's meal. After your baby turns 1 year old, you can increase the amount of ghee you give her.

You can consult your child's pediatrician to understand when to begin giving ghee to your child and how much to give.

Which ghee is best for babies?

Nowadays, a variety of ghee made from the milk of various breeds of cows and buffaloes is available in the market. So, which of these is the best choice for your child?

The ghee made from A2 milk is considered the best for babies. It is considered beneficial to the heart and has medicinal properties.

Myths vs facts about ghee

Myth #1: Giving ghee to babies harms their health

Fact: Although there is a widespread notion about ghee being harmful to health, it is not true. Only a few fatty acids in pure ghee led to a rise in cholesterol levels. Around 32% of fat in pure ghee is monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), which is a good form of dietary fat - the kind that olive oil is rich in. In fact, desi ghee scores over many polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) rich oils like sunflower, corn, and cottonseed oil.

Myth #2: Ghee for kids causes obesity and weight gain

Fact: People often associate the consumption of ghee with a gain in weight. However, it is lipolytic by nature, which pertains to the chemical breakdown of fat. Ghee is also rich in conjugated linoleic acid, or CLA, which is good for the heart and aids in weight loss. So, unless taken in excess, there is no need to worry about weight gain.

Myth #3: Ghee damages the health of joints

Fact: Joint pain is a major health problem and can lead to swollen joints, red bruises, and excruciating pain. If so, including small amounts of ghee in the diet may help. The benefits of ghee on the body, both inside and out, are numerous, including lubrication of joint health. Pure ghee has been used for ages to treat joint pains as it nourishes and strengthens the body and muscles.

Dr Ashok says that ghee is used to treat many degenerative diseases, including neurological and bone-related diseases.

Myth #4: Ghee is bad for the heart, and may lead to stroke

Fact: Ghee is often looked down on by many people as something that is unhealthy and bad for the heart. However, it is loaded with antioxidants, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), and fat-soluble vitamins like A, E, and D, due to which ghee can potentially be used in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

Myth #5: Ghee is extensively used in preparing Ayurvedic medicines

Fact: Ghee is one of the main components in many Ayurvedic medicines. Its ability to reach the deepest regions of the human body makes it ideal and effective in treating many diseases. It is well-known for its ability to cancel the harmful effects of toxins in the body.

Ghee has a property called Ayusham in Ayurveda, believed to prolong an individual's lifespan. Ghee also aids in cellular repair and regeneration.

Interesting facts about ghee

• It is used for lighting lamps during religious festivals due to its pure state.
• It can be used to relieve cracked lips, cuticles, and more.
• In some Indian cultures, giving a newborn a tiny taste of dates mixed with ghee is customary.
• Ghee is used to soothe skin burns and rashes.
• It can relieve constipation in some cases.
• It can also be used as a moisturizer for soft and supple skin.