There are many types of cooking oils used in Indian kitchens, but ghee holds a special place. The best ghee in India is determined by the way it is produced and the health-beneficial properties it offers. The Bilona method is considered the most authentic way of producing pure ghee in India. This method is clean, does not involve industrial processes, and supports health due to the presence of beneficial nutrients. The Indian market offers a variety of ghee types, with A2 cow ghee being one of the most popular. It is often believed that the presence of A2 beta-casein protein in A2 cow ghee helps improve digestion, making it a preferred choice among health-conscious consumers.
It is worth noting that not all types of ghee contain A2 beta-casein protein, as it is derived only from the milk of Indian desi cow breeds.
What is A2 Beta-Casein Protein?
Milk contains around 80% casein and 20% whey proteins. Beta-casein constitutes only a part of the total casein protein, which is around 30–35% of the total milk protein. The beta-casein can be either A1 or A2 protein type, depending on the source of milk. Generally, Indian indigenous cow breeds like Sahiwal, Gir, and Red Sindhi cows contain higher levels of A2 beta-casein protein.
If you are thinking that only Indian desi cows have A2 beta-casein protein, it is not so. A2 beta-casein protein is also found in human breast milk, which contains no A1 protein. Even the milk of buffaloes, sheep, goats, and camels has A2 beta-casein protein.
It is not that A1 is bad or A2 is good. It depends on the person. People with lactose issues avoid A2 beta-casein protein, while those with digestive issues prefer A2 protein.
If you are looking for pure ghee with A2 beta-casein protein, go for the best ghee in India – A2 cow ghee.
Does Ghee Contain A2 Beta-Casein Protein?
This is indeed an important question, useful for those seeking to buy the best ghee in India containing A2 beta-casein protein. It’s true that not all ghee is produced through the Bilona method using milk from desi cow breeds. It is quite hard to get pure ghee in India with A2 beta-casein protein nowadays, as businesses prefer foreign cow breeds to produce high volumes of milk. These foreign cow breeds like Holstein Friesian, Jersey, and Brown Swiss produce around 25–40 litres of milk per day, which is 2–4 times more than Indian cow breeds, but contain only A1 beta-casein protein. Ghee produced by sourcing milk from foreign cow breeds will not contain A2 beta-casein protein.
Only ghee made from the milk of Indian cow breeds like Sahiwal, Gir, and Red Sindhi contains A2 beta-casein protein, beneficial for digestion and overall health.
Before buying ghee, don’t just go for price; look for A2 cow ghee mentioned on the label. For quality ghee, buy from a reputed oil brand offering A2 cow ghee, the best ghee in India.
Relevance of Ghee in Ayurveda
Ghee is referred to as Ghrita or Ghritham in Ayurveda. Where modern science limits the functional benefits of ghee, Ayurveda lays greater emphasis on the importance of ghee. In Ayurveda, ghee is not just a cooking ingredient; it is far beyond it. Ghee is used in the preparation of traditional medicine and is one of the most important ingredients of the materia medica of Ayurveda.
Ayurveda terms ghee as Amrita or elixir of life, not just because of its caloric content, but for its nutritional and therapeutic properties. Ghee contains approximately 99% fat, which includes healthy saturated fat, monounsaturated fats, and fat-soluble vitamins. The vitamins present in ghee are A, D, E, and K. Further, the heart- and metabolism-beneficial aspects of ghee stem from the presence of Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) and omega-3 fatty acids.
Ayurveda claims that ghee helps relieve Vata dosha by lubricating joints, easing constipation, and countering dryness.
Ghee prepared from A2 desi cow milk is beneficial for digestion because it tends to create less Ama (toxins) and is considered more Sattvic (pure and balanced).
Ghee is known to penetrate deeper, nourishing the body due to its Yogavahi property and its ability to balance Vata and Pitta doshas.
Holding traditional relevance, therapeutic superiority, and cooking versatility, A2 cow ghee is the best ghee in India, known to support overall health if consumed in moderation.
Health Benefits of A2 Cow Ghee
Pure ghee in India, sourced from A2 desi cow milk and produced through the authentic Bilona method, carries health-beneficial properties. But moderation is the key to availing the real health benefits of the best ghee in India – A2 cow ghee.
Ghee Benefits Digestion and Gut Health
Butyric acid is naturally present in ghee and holds properties that benefit gut health. It is a type of healthy fat and short-chain fatty acid that keeps the lining of the gut strong and healthy, aiding smoother digestion. This beneficial fat helps reduce inflammation and improves immunity in the gut by acting as a natural defence system in the digestive tract.
Ghee Benefits Brain Health
The human brain is composed of approximately 60% fat. Pure A2 cow ghee contains high-quality saturated fats and omega-3 fatty acids (DHA) essential for brain health. Saturated fat helps maintain cell structure and provides stable energy. Omega-3 fatty acids, especially DHA, form an important part of brain cells, facilitating efficient communication between neurons and supporting learning, memory, and focus.
Ghee Benefits Skin and Joint Health
Ghee is a superfood, holding holistic health-reviving abilities, which include improving skin and joint health. It contains healthy fats and fat-soluble vitamins – A and E. These dynamic duo vitamins nourish and lubricate both skin and joint health.
Vitamin E is known to exhibit antioxidant properties that help strengthen the skin’s defensive abilities and help retain moisture, preventing skin dryness.
Vitamin A is responsible for the renewal of skin cells and reducing skin dullness. It also stimulates collagen production, which helps improve skin elasticity, reduces wrinkles, and repairs sun-damaged skin.
Together, vitamin A and E exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and structural support to bones and cartilage. These nutrients work in synergy, maintaining cartilage health and reducing inflammation, thereby improving joint health.
Also Read: Role of Butyric Acid in Ghee and How its Benefits Health
Bilona Method of Producing the Best A2 Cow Ghee in India
Ghee is always in high demand in India. To suffice the demand and make profits, unethical business practices use unhealthy ways to mass-produce ghee. Adulterated ghee is floated in the market under different brand labels. Hence, it is important to choose the best quality ghee from reputed oil brands that are offering Bilona A2 cow ghee.
The Bilona ghee extraction method is the traditional and authentic way of producing ghee. It requires more manual effort and phases out industrial processes of quickly producing large volumes of ghee.
Sourcing A2 Milk
Fresh milk is sourced from Indian desi cows like Sahiwal, Gir, and Red Sindhi, containing natural A2 protein. Sourcing of milk is the key foundation to maintain ghee’s nutritional richness and purity.
Boiling Milk
The sourced A2 cow milk is collected and then boiled, and allowed to cool. Once it reaches the right temperature, a small amount of curd is added, and the milk is left overnight to naturally ferment into curd. Ghee is made from curd and not cream; hence, curd formation is important.
Churning (Bilona Process)
The curd so formed is collected in a container and churned using a traditional wooden churner, known as a bilona or ravaiya. The churning is done by rotating the churner in both clockwise and anti-clockwise rhythmic motion. This process separates butter from buttermilk. The butter floats on the surface and is also referred to as makkhan.
Heating the Butter (Makkhan)
The butter is carefully scooped out and rinsed with cold water to remove remaining buttermilk. The filtered butter is then heated at a low temperature. Heating is done to melt the butter gently and evaporate the water content.
Pure Bilona Ghee
After removal of water content and continued heating, the butter transforms into golden ghee. This is the purest form of ghee produced traditionally without chemicals.
Always develop a buying tendency of identifying the best ghee in India by scanning the label that mentions the Bilona method.
Choose the Best A2 Cow Ghee in India
According to a report by NDTV, around 43,000 litres of ghee were seized by the Food Safety Department. This calls for careful purchase of ghee and avoiding adulterated ghee. Buying from reputed oil brands in India can minimize the risk of purchasing fake or adulterated ghee. Jivo is a renowned cold-pressed oil brand in India, known for offering a wide range of healthy and nutritious products, including A2 cow ghee.
Jivo’s A2 Cow Ghee is worth trying as it features:
- Desi cow breed milk source
- Bilona method of producing A2 cow ghee
- Chemical-free ghee
- Maintains nutritional profile
- Smooth texture
- Distinct flavour
You can use Jivo’s A2 cow ghee in preparing versatile dishes, as it holds onto the natural goodness of A2 cow milk, benefitting health and enhancing the flavour of dishes.
Buy the best ghee in India from the popular oil brand – Jivo A2 cow ghee.