It is not easy to deal with a pandemic. The chaos, uncertainty, misinformation, and cutback in public services make it difficult for the general public to cope with a pandemic. The H1N1 outbreak in 2009 and the Ebola scare in 2015 to the latest COVID-19 in 2020 are all instances of pandemics. Each of these pandemics brought with it a new viral strain that humans had little or no immunity against.
During a pandemic, your overall health and those around you matters the most. Your body has a natural defense mechanism that keeps you safe from foreign invaders, aka bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens. Your immune system regulates this defense mechanism. As long as you have a strong immune system, it becomes easier to deal with any threats of potential illnesses. However, your body is not an infallible machine, and it requires support. The same applies to your immune system too. There are various things you can do to strengthen your natural immunity. Consume healthy meals, get sufficient sleep and exercise, and stay away from unhealthy or processed foods, these three simple steps will help improve your overall immune response. Your body will benefit from any help it can get during a pandemic.
What is Immunity?
Immunity is a state of being insusceptible or resistant to disease, or it offers some protection against infectious disease. When an external or foreign substance enters the human body, then the immune response is triggered. This response helps neutralize, metabolize, or eliminate any foreign bodies.
Why is Ghee Good for Immunity?
One of the simplest ways in which you can assist your immune system is to consume natural Ghee. Ghee or clarified butter can help nourish and heal your body. All you need to do is add a little bit of this healthy fat your daily meals, and effectively improve your digestive health, fight free radicals, and enhance the immune response.
Ghee is filled with antioxidants that help the immune system by enhancing your body’s ability to absorb all essential nutrients. The chances of contracting illnesses reduce when your body can function optimally. The detoxification properties, coupled with Ghee’s ability to enhance digestion, will aid your immune system. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of Ghee make your body’s internal environment predominantly alkaline. In such conditions, it becomes tricky for any disease to develop or fester.
Butyric acid is a key element present in Ghee. Butyric acid helps stimulate the production of T-cells (T-lymphocyte is a type of white blood cell) in the body. These cells are the heavy-hitters your immune system depends on to fight off any illnesses. Add Ghee to your daily diet to strengthen your immune system and increase your body’s ability to protect itself during the coronavirus pandemic.
Consuming two tablespoons of Ghee, especially pure and natural Ghee, will invariably improve your overall wellbeing. With Ghee, you can essentially eat your way to better health! Ghee can be incorporated into savory and sweet dishes based on your preferences. From baking cookies to cooking vegetables, substitute unhealthy oils with Ghee to improve your health!
Are you looking for authentic and delicious Ghee without any additives? If yes, then don’t forget to try Velamore’s Ghee! Here are some simple yet delicious recipes you can cook using Ghee!
Turmeric Milk
Makes: 2 servings
Ingredients:
2 cups milk
2 tablespoons honey or jaggery or sugar
1 tablespoon ghee
4 tablespoons turmeric powder
1 tablespoon carom seeds
Directions:
Heat milk in a saucepan until nice and warm (slightly more than warm).
Turn off the heat and add the sweetener. Stir until sweetener dissolves completely.
Meanwhile, place a small pan over medium flame. Add ghee. When ghee melts and is well heated, but not smoking, add carom seeds and turmeric and stir. Turn off the heat and immediately pour into the warm milk. Stir well.
Pour into cups and serve.
Rab
Makes: 2 servings
Ingredients:
4 tablespoons ghee
3.5 ounces jaggery
2 tablespoons pearl millet flour
Directions:
Place a pan over medium heat. Add ghee. When ghee melts, add the flour and stir fry until brownish red.
Stir in the jaggery. Keep stirring until jaggery melts. Turn off the heat.
Divide into 2 cups. Serve hot. Do not drink water for 60 minutes after drinking this mixture.
Turmeric, Ghee and Salt Paste
Makes: For 1 person for 1 day
Ingredients:
1 ½ teaspoons ghee
1 ½ teaspoons turmeric powder
Salt to taste
Directions:
Mix together in a bowl, turmeric powder, ghee and salt.
Eat a teaspoon of the mixture, 3 times daily. Do not drink water for 60 minutes after eating the paste.
Kitchhari
Makes: 3 – 4
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons ghee
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
½ teaspoon fenugreek seeds
½ teaspoon fennel seeds
1 teaspoon turmeric powder
1 inch fresh ginger, grated
1 cup rice, preferably short grain rice, rinsed, soaked in water for an hour
½ cup split yellow mung lentils, rinsed, soaked in water for an hour
1 cups chopped vegetables of your choice
½ teaspoon salt or to taste
4 ½ - 5 cups water
Lemon juice to serve
Directions:
Place a skillet over medium heat. Add ghee. When ghee melts, add fennel, cumin and fenugreek seeds. Once crackling stops, add turmeric, rice and lentils and stir for 2 – 3 minutes.
Pour water and stir. Add vegetables, ginger and salt and stir. When it begins to boil, lower the heat and cover with a lid. Cook until nearly dry. Stir occasionally. If you think that the rice or lentils are not cooked, add some more water. It tastes better when the mixture is very well cooked and mushy. So add more water if desired.
Turn off the heat and let it sit covered for 10 minutes.
Alternately, if you have a pressure cooker, it can be cooked in the pressure cooker.
Add lemon juice and stir. Serve hot. It tastes good with yogurt.
Ghee is an extremely versatile ingredient and these are just a few recipes that you can make. You can be innovative in the kitchen and use ghee in loads of recipes, savory and sweet alike.