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Ghee Article from Ayurveda Holistic Community Swami Sadashiva Tirtha- http://www.ayurvedahc.com
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Glorious Golden Ghee
Ghee is lauded in the Ayurvedic tradition as boosting immunity, ojas, and balancing Pitta and Vayu doshas. These days many people ask about ghee from a modern medical perspective. Here is discussion of ghee from a modern perspective.
The Culprits In the early 1900’s Americans ate six times as much butter as we do today and had virtually no heart disease. Today’s butter is hundreds of times higher in trans-fats than 100 years ago and heart diseases strikes two out of three people. 2. Saturated Fats The second population lived in southern India and were vegetarians but, instead of eating ghee, ate plastic-food margarine and refined polyunsaturated vegetable oils. This second group did have lower cholesterol levels, but they had 15 times higher rate of heart disease than the northern population. The Heroes Cholesterol & Saturated Fats: Ghee is usually made from cow’s butter and contains cholesterol and saturated fats. Cholesterol is necessary for a healty brain and liver, and for cushioning the body’s organs. We know in Ayurveda that a balance of health includes Kapha as an essential part of health. This essential fat is called “happy fat”. Many Ayurvedic doctors do not advise eating ghee with high cholesterol. Others suggest cooking ashwagandha or guggul with the ghee to extract ghee from the body. Batric Acid: found in saturated fats is believed by some to inhibit the growth of tumors. CLA (conjugated linoleic acid): is a key component of ghee. In recent studies it has been shown to slow the progress of some types of cancer and heart disease, and may also help reduce body fat while increasing lean muscle mass. For those whose bad cholesterol is too high, cooking ashwagandha or guggulu into the ghee will help reduce the bad cholesterol, but most ayurvedic doctors suggest not consuming ghee with high cholesterol. Benefits of Ghee Ghee is good for all doshas – though Kapha body types should not take as much as they are already fairly well lubricated due to their dosha. Ghee builds marrow, semen and ojas (life sap). It improves intelligence, memory, vision, voice, digestion, and nourishes the lungs, liver, kidneys and brain. Ghee promotes longevity and is good for the elderly as well as for children. Taken with herbs and foods, it transports nutrition to all 7 tissue layers. Also, it is lactose free – so is beneficial for those who cannot drink milk or eat cheese. Dosage: Generally 1 tsp. of ghee per meal for Vayu and Pitta doshas is beneficial. For Kapha doshas, 1 or 2 tsp a day should be sufficient. We use and recommend organic Purity Farms Ghee – free of chemicals, hormones, antibiotics, and no GMS’s (genetically modified organisms). A tridoshic, traditional, herbal mix that reduces bad cholesterol: Triphala Guggulu How to make Ghee: Ghee or clarified butter is used in countless Indian dishes. It is in fact, a great alternative to cooking oil. Homemade ghee is fragrant and adds an incomparable richness to any dish. Ghee becomes solidified at lower temperatures but can easily be melted when required. This recipe makes approximately 850 ml (when in liquid form) of ghee.
Ingredients:
Preparation:
Recommended book: Ayurveda Encyclopedia Natural Secrets For Healing, Prevention & Longevity by Swami Sada Shiva Tirtha, D.Sc.
An exhaustive and in-depth presentation of all aspects of Ayurveda.
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