Author Archives: Drridhima.Ayurnurture

By Dr. Ridhima gupta (BAMS)

One of Ayurveda’s most treasured foods, GHEE has incredible healing properties. In ayurveda food is medicine, being used as a everyday ingredient in the Indian kitchen, it is one of the best fat used for cooking. Also known as clarified butter, is made by heating butter until all the water has evaporated and then filtering the milk solids until only the fat (ghee) remains.

In Ayurveda, GHEE preferably means GO GHRIT (cow ghee).

Cow ghee is considered to be the best of all unctuous substances.

WHY GHEE?

Ghee consists of fat soluble vitamins, which aid weight loss. Ghee also plays a key role in balancing hormones and maintaining healthy cholesterol. Ghee also has a high heat point, which prevents it from producing free radicals that damage cell function.” Ghee is clarified butter made from the milk of a buffalo or cow. Pure desi ghee, is ghee made of cow’s milk. It contains plenty of omega-3 fatty acids along with Vitamin A. Beyond our kitchens, ghee finds a coveted space in beauty and hair care rituals too.  

Ghee has healing properties and improves mental function, the complexion, voice, eyes, and reproductive tissues.

It is also used as a carrier for healing herbs, and is added to some herbal oils. 

One of the most famous formulation of ghee which is also used as a moisturizer is SHAD DHAUT GHRIT ( 100 times washed ghee).

SPECIALITY OF GHEE :

संस्कारस्य अनुवर्तनम् – it has a very unique capability to absorb the active constituents of an herb into it, without leaving out ghee’s inherent quality. This is known as YOGAVAHI. 

For therapeutic purposes , the older the ghee is, the better its healing properties will be. It is said that the ghee that is 100 years old can even reduce kapha (dosha) in the body.

QUALITIES 

Heavy, soft, oily and cooling in nature.

ACC. TO AYURVEDA :

• Taste (rasa) – sweet (Madhur)
• Veery (potency) – mild hot cold in nature 
• It promotes memory(smriti), intelligence(medha), digestive fire (agni), ojas (immunity).

EFFECT ON DOSHA :

Pacifies pitta (mainly) and vaata and increases kapha dosha.

RIGHT TIME TO TAKE GHEE :

Ghee balances pitta dosha (fire element) mainly. Afternoon is the time in which pitta is highly aggravated , hence ghee with lunch is the best time to take especially during summer and autumn season, where heat/ fire is naturally aggravated.

RECOMMENDED GHEE AMOUNT :

Ayurveda does not describe a specific daily amount. Ayurveda states taking ghee in the appropriate amount that you can digest easily without affecting other food intakes. Ghee also has heavy quality. (Guru Guna). Hence, it makes sense to consume ghee in the early part of the meals, so that it gets digested properly with the help of Agni.

ANUPANA ( after drink) – with warm water 

DOSE – ½ to 1 TSF before meals when you are hungry & digestive fire is at peak.

 BENEFITS  IN AYURVEDA :

शस्तं धी स्मृति मेधाग्नि बलायुःशुक्र चक्षुषाम् । बाल वृद्धप्रजा कान्ति सौकुमार्यस्वरार्थिनाम् ॥ ३७ ॥ क्षत क्षीण परीसर्प शस्त्र अग्निग्लपितात्मनाम् । वात पित्त विषोन्माद शोषा लक्ष्मी ज्वरापहम् ॥ ३८ ॥ स्नेहानामुक्तमं शीतं वयसः स्थापनं परम् । सहस्रवीर्य विधिभिर्घृतं कर्मसहस्रकृत् ॥ ३९॥ (Astanga Hridaya, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 5)

• Ghee improves intelligence, memory, retention power, digestive fire and strength.
• It is good for reproduction, eyes, children and old-aged people.
• It improves fertility, complexion and voice.
• In cases of diseases, it helps in wasting of the body, lung injury, herpes, injuries due to sharp objects and burns.
• It is useful in Vaata and Pitta diseases.
• It is also helpful in poisoning, insanity, tuberculosis, and fever.
• If ghee is prepared as explained in classical texts, it can be kept for 1000 years. Old ghee is used to treat several health conditions.

WHAT IS PURANA GHRIT ( that is 1 year old) ?

मदापस्मारमूच्च्छायशिरःकर्णाक्षियोनिजान् । पुराणं जयति व्याधीन् व्रणशोधनरोपणम् ॥ ४० ॥ (Astanga Hridaya, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 5)

Old ghee is useful in the following health conditions:

• Mada- intoxication 
• Apasmara – epilepsy 
• Moorcha- fainting 
• Shosha – emaciation 
• Unmada – schizophrenia 
• Jwara- fever

Helps You Keep Warm From Within

Ghee is an integral part of Indian winters. According to Ayurveda, ingesting ghee helps you keep warm from within; which is perhaps why it is extensively used in many winter preparations like gajar ka halwa, moong dal halwa, pinni and panjeeri.

GHEE IN AYURVEDIC PROCEDURES :

NASYA – nasal drops, 2 drops of ghee is instilled in both the nostrils in the morning.

It treats grey hair, migraine, tinnitus, hearing problems, headache, visison problems and all Vaata pitta related issues.

SNEHANA (OLEATION THERAPY) – It is one of the pre panchkarma procedure where ghee or oil can be used externally or internally.

BEST RASYANA (REJUVENATOR) – MILK AND GHEE 

Daily intake of milk and ghee is the best anti ageing remedy, works as a rasayana ( best rejuvenator ) – can be taking together or separately. 

CONTRAINDICATIONS OF GHEE :

Before I tell you some ways to use ghee in the diet, it is important to establish that ghee is only beneficial when used properly.  This means in moderation and at proper times.  Although ghee is a powerfully healing, medicinal agent; when it is overused or misused, ghee soon becomes toxic.  If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, it is important to know that ghee should be used sparingly in the diet or it should be avoided :

• Excessive toxins in the system
• Overweight or obese
• Excessive Kapha in the system
• The blockage of blood vessels
• Atherosclerosis
• Hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol, triglycerides)
• Heart diseases due to poor lifestyle or sedentary lifestyle
• Obesity
• All kapha disorders
• If pitta is associated with ama
• In ama (indigestion) conditions
• In cold, cough, sinusitis
• Jaundice, fatty liver and hepatitis

NUTRITIONAL BENEFITS OF GHEE :

• Ghee is a calorie-dense food. 100 ml of ghee gives as much as 883 calories of energy.
• Ghee is purely fat and has no significant amount of proteins, carbohydrates, sugar or fibre. 100 ml of ghee contains almost 99.8 grams of fat. . It has healthy fats which make it add good cholesterol to the body. Ghee does not cause heart diseases like other forms of fat.
• Ghee is also rich in vitamin A, vitamin E and vitamin K if the source of ghee is the milk from grass-fed cows. It also contains butyric acid. 

Helps Digestive System / IMPROVES DIGESTIVE FIRE 

Ghee consumption is strongly related to a healthy gut. In the olden times, our ancestors used to have a spoonful of ghee before every meal. It lined the gut and reduced chances of ulcers and cancer.

Strengthens Immune System

Ghee is rich in Butyric Acid, which helps the body in producing T cells that fight diseases. Also, read 7 habits to boost immunity

Source of Essential Vitamins

Ghee is a dependable source of critical oil-soluble vitamins A and E that are needed for a healthy liver, balanced hormones, and fertility.

Anti-inflammatory and Anti-cancer

Ghee has butyric acid, which is an anti-cancer constituent. The antioxidants present in it make it anti-inflammatory.

ghee has been used topically to treat burns and swelling. While this is not scientifically proven, ghee does contain butyrate, a fatty acid that has known anti-inflammatory properties. Studies show that the butyrate present in ghee can soothe inflammation within the body.

Boon for Lactose Intolerant

Ghee is lactose-free. It doesn’t cause allergies in those who suffer from dairy or casein intolerance.

GOOD FOR EYESIGHT 

 One of the most commonly used ghee medicine in ayurveda for eyes is Mahatriphala ghrit.

MOUTH ULCERS/ BURNING SENSATION 

Gargling with ghee helps in relieving ulcers, burning pain.

Treats Burns

Ghee is one of the safest dermatological cosmetics. It is skin-friendly and helps treat burns, wounds, cuts, cracks etc.

Pure desi ghee is made out of cow’s milk and is said to be extremely powerful in giving you a soft and supple skin. Ghee is known to be suitable for all skin types and it also has vital fatty acids that help in hydration of the skin cells.

Strengthens Bones

Ghee is rich in Vitamin K, which helps in calcium absorption. It helps in the prevention of tooth decay and prevents atherosclerosis. Also, read the best foods for healthy bones

Cures Thyroid Dysfunction

Since the usage of ghee results in balancing the hormones, it is instrumental in thyroid dysfunction.

Weight Loss

Ghee revs up the body’s metabolism making it an ideal medium for weight loss. Consumption of ghee makes it burn the other fats in the body and thus causes weight loss.

A High Smoke Point

Ghee does not break into free radicals at a high temperature. Free radicals are responsible for cancer, amongst other diseases. This makes it an ideal medium and a stable fat to cook and fry food in.

Treats Menstrual Problems

Ghee tends to balance the hormones in the body. This makes it an ideal contender if you are looking to relieve yourself of menstrual issues like PMS and irregular periods.

Enhances Taste

Ghee elevates the taste of any dish that it is added to – a bowl of dal becomes tastier after adding ghee.

Positive Food

Ghee attracts toxic elements in the body and helps in cleansing the body of harmful stuff. It is one of the most sattvic foods. It has a powerful healing properties.

Lowers down the glycemic index

In India, spreading ghee over chappatis and parathas is a standard practice. It is said that applying ghee on chapattis could bring down the glycemic index of the chapatti by some amount, in addition to making it more moist and digestible.

Relieves constipation 

Taking 1 or 2 teaspoonfuls of ghee in a cup of hot milk at bedtime is an effective but gentle means of relieving constipation,”

Cardio protective 

Though ghee is rich in fat, it contains high concentrations of monounsaturated Omega-3s. These healthful fatty acids support a healthy heart and cardiovascular system

Disclaimer 

Though the CLA in ghee has been shown to reduce weight gain in some people, it is also a calorie-dense and fat-rich food. Despite its health benefits, consuming too much ghee can lead to increased weight gain and elevate the risk of obesity.

Dr. Ridhima Gupta 

(Ayurvedic consultant)

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As an ayurvedic doctor, I have been asked these questions many a times- Does Ayurveda require vegetarianism? Do I have to become a vegetarian in order to benefit from Ayurvedic treatment? Why one should adopt vegetarianism? What ayurveda says about it?

So let us start with the benefits & WHY one should be a VEGETARIAN or must adopt a vegetarian diet?

Maintaining a happy and healthy mind relies on eating fresh, nourishing foods. A well- planned vegetarian diet consisting of grains, vegetables ,fruits, herbs, milk, ghee, and vegetable oils provides all the nourishment required.

Vegetarianism has a positive impact on both the health of individual and the world.

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1. To increase sattva and enhance spiritual growth. Meat, poultry, fish and eggs are considered rajasic and tamasic.

2. For nourishment- The further away from the original source of energy-the sun-your food is, the less nourishing it is. Plant based foods are always lighter and easier to digest than meat, which is burden on the digestive tract.

3. For good health -Those with a balanced vegetarian diet have fewer chronic diseases – most notably they have lower cholesterol, are less obese and have lower risk of heart disease. Also, Vegetarian diet costs much less than non-vegetarian foods.

5 ) Through compassion – Compassion or non- violence towards all living beings is an important part of ayurveda. This includes animals. Compassion for animals is also a big thing which can turn a person to vegan. Thinking about the conditions that animals have to endure in the factories or areas they are kept for slaughtering may be enough to feel compassion for them. Compassion can help a person to remain vegetarian for long term.

6 )To feed the world 

The growing human population is putting pressure on the planet’s resources. The earth can provide enough food for everyone – if we all eat a vegetarian diet.

6) To protect the Earth 

A vegetarian diet reduces the negative environment impact of meat production, such as greenhouse gas emissions, waste wastage and water pollution.

AYURVEDA & VEGETARIANISM 

A common assumption is that Ayurveda is a vegetarian system. That is simply not the case. In Ayurveda, a little of anything is considered medicine and too much is considered poison. This rule stands for meat as well. In the ancient texts of Ayurveda, each animal product is defined by quality and meat is recommended as therapy for many ailments.

Ayurveda is a science of life originated from India and maybe that’s where from its adherence to vegetarian diet comes. It’s not that Ayurveda says a complete no to nonvegetarian diet. Many of the ancient masters have narrated the worth of some animal products in treating certain diseases. However, the vegetarian diet recommendations are much higher than the non-vegetarian.

One of the reason why total vegetarian diet is encouraged is because non veg is claimed to increase tamas dosha, which acc to spirituality is true.

You must have heard that line, ‘We are what we eat’. The basic concept behind Ayurveda recommending and supporting vegetarian food is its ability to get digested. Lighter food is easily digested as compared to the heavier ones. Vegetarian food is lighter than non -vegetarian food and requires much less energy and time to get digested. The basic concept and law of health is to form and conserve more energy in the body than it requires to digest the food as other activities in the body also needs it. The digestive fire needs more energy and time to get digested which slowly results in indigestion. Indigestion causes deposition of ama, an endotoxin. This ama is the cause of all diseases. Non vegetarian is a tamasic food, i.e. food that dulls mental and digestive power.

Vegetarian foods often leave fe9wer residues than animal products after digestion and for some help increase vitality. A vegetarian lifestyle is more environmentally friendly. However, humans have consumed meat for millennia, and a small amount may be necessary for your health. Many vegetarians become anemic and protein deficient. Adopting a vegetarian lifestyle needs to be a good fit for the individual. In general, Vaata types have the hardest time staying healthy with a vegetarian diet. However there are exceptions! Kapha people, on the other hand, often need less meat than they think

Although it is ultimately a personal decision, whether based on morals, personal preferences, religious ideals, or individual healthcare needs, what exactly does Ayurveda say about eating meat?

As with everything Ayurveda, eating meat should be about finding your personal balance.  One man’s medicine is another man’s poison.  What works for you, may not work for others.  Ultimately, we must discover our present needs (this can change at different times in one’s life).  We must also be non-judgmental toward others and their dietary decisions.  Finally, if we do decide to eat meat, whether routinely or as medicine,  one should always source organic, humanely raised meat as much as possible.

Like many other areas in Ayurveda, eating meat is not a black and white issue, but rather a choice that should be based on one’s body type (aka dosha type), as well as the individual’s personal healthcare needs.  Although one person may feel amazing living a meat-free life, another individual may become severely depleted and malnourished, especially over time. 

This means one should listen to their body.  If you become vegetarian (or vegan) and after a while notice new health issues such as hair loss, loss of menstruation, anemia, recurring colds and flu, or chronic exhaustion, these are all indicators you may need to introduce meat (at least medicinally) back into your life.  Alternatively, if one eats meat fairly often and is suffering from sluggish digestion, slow metabolism and consistent weight gain, this may be an indicator that meat is not the best food choice for you, at least on a daily basis.

The foods which increase purity, Health and joy are sattvic and sattvic diets are eating wholesome, fresh fruits and vegetables (vegetarian). 

 SATTVIC DIETARY HABITS ;

Reduce consumption of non-vegetarian food

Increase consumption of vegetarian food

Limit raw foods, particularly in the evening

Consume cooked food, freshly prepared 

Avoid refrigerated foods

Eat your meals at fixed times

CHOOSE YOUR FOODS 

Fresh , ripe foods are the best choices for a sattvic diet.

Meals should be freshly prepared, not processed.

Wherever possible, aim to ;

Shop organic – choose food grown in fertile soil free from pesticides.

Shop local – farmers markets & home grown produce are ideal.

Avoid supermarket produce that has been prepackaged and imported.

CONCLUSION ;

Ayurveda does not say that one should follow total vegetarianism.

A non vegetarian diet has its own significance in ayurveda depending upon the individual’s prakriti and dosha (vaata, pitta and kapha).

Ayurveda is not a religion, its a science purely based on individual body characteristics. If some are weak and need animal protein in the diet, Ayurveda does not restrict that. In Ayurveda, there is clearly mention of non-veg foods which are used as a medicine. 

Dr. Ridhima Gupta

CEO & founder at AyurNurture