Is Ghee Safe To Eat For People Who Have High Cholesterol?

People with high cholesterol are told to do more exercise, reduce alcohol consumption, stop smoking and cut down on the amount of fats in their diet. 

However, this is where many become confused because there are different types of fats, some of which are ‘good’. 

The British Heart Foundation explains that too much saturated fat and trans fat increases cholesterol levels in the blood. 

Unsaturated fats, on the other hand, such as olive oil, avocado, almonds, and oily fish, are much better for you. 

When it comes to ghee, it has a high concentration of monounsaturated fats. 

Therefore, it is not considered to be as unhealthy as saturated fats, which include processed meats, hard cheeses, whole milk and cream, butter and lard.

Instead, some studies show that having a balanced diet that includes organic ghee can even reduce cholesterol levels in the blood, particularly if the patient uses it instead of their usual saturated fats.

A recent study looked at rats that were given ghee for ten per cent of their diet for four weeks. It showed it “did not have any significant effect on levels of serum total cholesterol”. 

However, it is important to exercise some restraint, as too much of any fat can increase the risk of heart disease. 

The best thing to do for those who have high cholesterol is to maintain a balanced diet, replacing their saturated fats with the likes of peanut butter, nuts, olives, salmon and seeds.

They should also take part in aerobic, resistance and balance exercises regularly, as these all improve heart health, as well as help control weight, boost mental health, reduce blood pressure, and benefit sleep. 

If they are unable to reduce their cholesterol levels adequately, they might also be put on statins by their doctor.