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Ghee For Babies: When To Introduce, Health Benefits And Precautions

Ghee refers to clarified butter obtained from cow, buffalo, or mixed milk. The milk product is well known for its culinary and medicinal uses, but further research is required to ascertain the benefits of ghee for babies. Ghee mainly contains milk fats, low amounts of fat-soluble vitamins, and a few minerals .

Keep reading this post to know more about including ghee in your baby’s diet, when to introduce it, its nutritional value, and precautions to take.

When Can You Introduce Ghee To Your Baby’s Diet?

Babies can start consuming ghee from the age of six months. In fact, it is one of the common dietary fat added to baby food in some countries. Ghee is available in various types like cow ghee, buffalo ghee, and mixed milk ghee . Cow ghee is considered ideal for use for babies.

If your baby has milk allergy or lactose intolerance, then consult a doctor before introducing ghee .

How Much Ghee Can You Give To Babies?

There is no set limit of ghee intake for babies. In general, babies under the age of 12 months can consume one teaspoon of ghee every day. This amount then can be gradually increased to two teaspoons to a tablespoon a day. However, remember that it is not important to start babies on a specified amount of fat as they will get it from mother’s milk and fat that goes in other cooking methods.

You can consult your baby’s pediatrician or a pediatric dietician to determine the safe limit of ghee for your baby’s age.

Nutritional Value Of Ghee

Ghee is an anhydrous milk product that contains 99.8% milk fat. One tablespoon of ghee provides the following nutrients to your baby on a per-day basis .

Sources: U.S. Department of Agriculture and World Health Organization

Health Benefits Of Ghee For Babies

Below is a list of some potential benefits that your baby could reap by regular consumption of ghee.

1. Easy to digest: The preparation of ghee reduces the lactose and casein content of the milk. It might make ghee easier to digest for babies with lactose intolerance.

2. Condensed source of energy: One tablespoon of ghee provides 112Kcal of energy. This makes ghee a good source of energy for growing babies.

3. Healthy weight gain: When consumed in controlled amounts regularly, ghee might help in healthy weight gain. Ghee contains conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), which is found in milk and meat products. Studies have shown that CLA can reduce adipose mass and improve bone mass.This attribute might facilitate healthy weight gain in babies.

4. Nutrient-dense: When consumed with a balanced diet, ghee could provide considerable amounts of fat-soluble vitamins, such as vitaminsA, D, E, and K . It also provides vital bioactive compounds such as CLA, SCFAs, and MCFAs, i.e., short-chain and medium-chain fatty acids.

5. Bone health: Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) found in ghee can help improve bone mass. Ghee is also a source of vitamin D and calcium, which are essential for maintaining healthy bones .

6. Digestive health: Ghee enhances the availability of MCFAs (medium-chain fatty acids) that are considered supportive in maintaining digestive health. Adding a teaspoon of ghee in your baby’s diet might help in the healthy development of the digestive system .

7. Immunity: Cow ghee is known to possess immunomodulatory properties. These properties are attributed to the presence of a type of lipids called sphingolipids. These play a positive role in supporting immunity by assisting the maturation of the gut .

8. Cognitive development: Cow ghee contains DHA, choline, and sphingolipidsthat play an essential role in brain and cognitive development .

9. Antimicrobial effect: In alternative medicine, cow ghee is used for the treatment of various ailments. This is owing to the presence of phospho lipids, which upon digestion, exhibit antimicrobial properties .

10. Eczema: In Ayurveda, oral consumption of ghee is believed to help manage skin conditions like eczema . Consult a pediatrician before using ghee to treat your baby’s eczema.

Consumption of ghee might be beneficial, but it also has its share of potential health risks.

Possible Side-Effects Of Ghee For Babies

When consumed in moderation, ghee seldom creates any health issues. Below are some possible side-effects of excess consumption of ghee.

1. Increased weight: Regular over consumption of ghee could cause a baby to gain excess calories, which can lead to weight gain. In the long run, it might increase the risk of childhood obesity.

2. Indigestion and loss of appetite: Over consumption of ghee is associated with indigestion and loss of appetite as it might keep the stomach full for longer.

Observing precautions while serving ghee to your baby can help avoid any adverse effects.

Precautions To Take While Giving Ghee To Babies

The following measures could help in the safe intake of ghee for the baby.

1. Prefer homemade ghee. If it is not possible for you to prepare ghee at home, then purchase fresh organic ghee.

2. Feed ghee in moderate amounts only.

3. If your baby shows any signs of intolerance, discontinue feeding ghee.

4. If your baby regularly experiences indigestion, then stop giving ghee and observe for a few days.

5. Avoid using ghee if your baby has jaundice, hepatitis, or any other liver disorder.

6. As per Ayurveda, you must avoid using ghee during cold and cough.

Remember, ghee can be beneficial when it is made a part of the baby’s balanced diet.

Ways To Include Ghee In Your Baby’s Diet

Ghee is a versatile food and can be used in various ways. Below are some suggestions that you might consider when including it in the baby’s diet.

1. Drizzle a few drops on dal or sambar or soup and feed it to your baby. You can add ghee to various baby foods, too.

2. Gradually start adding ghee to your baby’s vegetable puree, khichdi, or use it to grease a bread slice.

3. Ghee can be used as a cooking medium due to its high smoking point. Cook your daily vegetables and grains in a teaspoon of ghee and let your baby enjoy its benefits.

Ghee for babies is a health-benefiting dietary fat. The regular consumption of ghee in moderate amounts can support your baby’s growth and development. Moreover, it has promising effects on overall health and well-being in the long run. However, excessive consumption can lead to health issues, such as obesity. Therefore, consult your baby’s pediatrician to understand the right amount of ghee that can be safe for your baby. Lastly, you must be consistent with its use and wait patiently to witness the maximum number of benefits it can provide.