Archive · 6 Sep 2026
Expert Warns Against Large Ghee Intake During Fasting
Dr Shilpa Arora says she eats ghee while fasting for about 16 hours overnight.
She says this may lower cortisol and raise melatonin.
A dietitian explains that a ghee fast usually means taking a small amount of melted ghee before other food or drinks.
She recommends starting with about half a teaspoon, not a large quantity.
The ghee should be followed by warm water and a normal breakfast.
Some people may associate the practice with digestion, constipation, or nutrient absorption.
People with certain health conditions should avoid it or ask a doctor first.
Eating more ghee does not necessarily create more benefits.
There is not strong clinical evidence that this practice causes weight loss or detoxifies the body.
Dr Shilpa Arora says she consumes water and half a jar of ghee during an approximately 16-hour evening fast.
Registered dietitian Deepalakshmi describes a ghee fast as consuming a small amount of melted ghee on an empty stomach.
Deepalakshmi recommends starting with about half a teaspoon, followed by warm water and a regular breakfast.
The practice is not advised for people with gallstones, pancreatitis, or medically prescribed fat-restricted diets.
Claims that ghee fasting promotes weight loss or detoxification are not well supported by clinical evidence, Deepalakshmi says.
- Who
- Dr Shilpa Arora and registered dietitian Deepalakshmi.
- What
- A discussion of consuming ghee during an overnight fast and the health precautions surrounding the practice.
- When
- Dr Shilpa Arora describes fasting from about 6:30 p.m. until 11 a.m. the next morning, with ghee consumed during the fast.
- Where
- The practice was described in an Instagram video, while Deepalakshmi was quoted from Shree Balaji Medical Centre in Chennai.
- Why
- Arora says ghee fasting helps lower cortisol and raise melatonin; Deepalakshmi says small amounts may support digestive activity but cautions against excessive intake and unsupported health claims.
Claimed Benefits
Clinical Cautions
Effects on hormones and fasting
Claimed Benefits
Dr Shilpa Arora says consuming ghee during her fast helps lower cortisol and raise melatonin.
Clinical Cautions
Deepalakshmi does not endorse large quantities and says the practice should not be treated as a universal recommendation.
Digestive effects
Claimed Benefits
The dietitian says a small amount of ghee may stimulate bile secretion and gastric function, support absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, and provide a mild lubricating effect that may help occasional constipation.
Clinical Cautions
She says people should not use ghee fasting as a substitute for clinical treatment of conditions such as IBS or acid reflux.
Quantity and health claims
Claimed Benefits
Arora describes consuming half a jar of ghee during her fast and sometimes taking more with black coffee when hungry.
Clinical Cautions
Deepalakshmi recommends beginning with about half a teaspoon, warns that higher intake does not mean greater benefit, and says weight-loss and detoxification claims lack strong clinical support.
- Reported fasting period
- Approximately 16 hours, from dinner at 6:30 p.m. until 11 a.m. the next morning
- Dr Shilpa Arora’s stated intake
- Water and half a jar of ghee during the fast; she may also have ghee with black coffee the next morning if hungry
- Dietitian’s starting amount
- Approximately half a teaspoon of pure, well-clarified ghee
- Suggested follow-up
- Drink warm water and continue with a regular breakfast
- Conditions requiring caution
- Gallstones, pancreatitis, elevated cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or a medically prescribed fat-restricted diet
- Evidence warning
- Weight-loss and detoxification claims are not well supported by clinical evidence
- Professional advice
- Consult a health practitioner before starting the routine