Why to eat cow ghee!

All living creatures on Earth are made up of five basic elements of nature, namely Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Space, collectively known as Panchabhootas, and their health is influenced by Tridoshas: Vata (air), Pitta (fire), and Kapha (phlegm). Any disruption in the natural balance of these five elements may result in disease. Based on these fundamental life principles, various remedial systems were developed, of which Ayurveda is for humans.

Hindus deem the Indian cow as a sacred animal. Since Vedic times in Indian civilization, the cow has been described as Kamdhenu (one who grants all wishes). It’s thought to be a “mobile hospital” for treating various ailments. A variety of diseases can be cured by using cow-derived products. Cow urine, milk, ghee, curd, and dung are extensively described in ancient Ayurvedic scriptures such as Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, and BrahadWagbhatt.

Cow ghee, butterfat derived from cow milk, is said to have many medicinal properties, including being energy-cooling, rejuvenating, bestowing luster and beauty, improving memory and stamina, increasing intellect, and promoting longevity. It has aphrodisiac properties and protects the body from a variety of diseases (1).

Nowadays, many of us are shifting to the use of olive oil in our diet. Moreover, many are considering olive oil superior to desi cow ghee. Speaking calorically, one tablespoon of olive oil and one tablespoon of desi cow ghee give the exact same amount of calories. The difference just lies in the fatty acid composition of both. Cow ghee has a geographic advantage over olive oil as it is native to the region it is prepared in. Any native food suits your body way better than something which isn’t native. So, both olive oil and ghee have their individual merits, but cow ghee will always have its benefits over olive oil if consumed in proper proportions.

Ghee is nutritionally superior to other oils/fats due to its high content of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs), which are absorbed directly by the liver and burned for energy. As a result, it can be a reliable source of energy for athletes. Furthermore, the energy from medium-chain fatty acids can be used to burn other fats in the system and lose weight (1), indicating that these MCFAs have anti-obesity properties. Medium-chain fatty acids differ from long-chain fatty acids in their physical and metabolic properties, making them a readily available cellular energy source. For more than 50 years, these properties have been used to treat lipid absorption disorders, malnourished patients, and, more recently, subjects with long-chain fatty acid oxidation defects (2).

Ghee, unlike other oils, contains butyric acid, a short-chain fatty acid (3) that contributes to its distinct flavor and ease of digestion. It stimulates the secretion of gastric acid, which aids in digestion. It has been demonstrated that people with faulty digestive tracts do not produce adequate butyric acid. Proper butyric acid levels promote the production of killer T cells in the gut and, as a result, a strong immune system. Furthermore, ghee-based formulations are well-scripted in the Ayurvedic system of medicine for wound healing. According to studies, consuming up to 10% ghee in the diet altered blood lipid profiles in such a way that the risk factors for cardiovascular disease were not increased (1). For centuries, Ayurvedic physicians have used ghee to reduce inflammation. Cow ghee is also high in vitamins A, D, E, and K, all of which are essential for good health.

In Ayurveda, ghee is placed under the most sattvic foods and is considered to promote positivity, growth, and the expansion of consciousness. The positive subtle effects of ghee are said to come from the fact that it comes freely from cows. Cows are domestic animals in most parts of the world, but they are considered special and holy in Hindu cultures of India. Therefore, the milk from cows contains the essence of all those energies, and ghee is the ultimate essence of that milk. Ghee is used as a suitable carrier for many herbs and spices with different medicinal properties, which need to be absorbed and transported to targeted areas of the body. This is why Ayurveda uses ghee in thousands of different herbal preparations for curing various ailments. Besides this, cow ghee is a rich source of vitamins and MCFAs which aid in overall wellbeing and immunity enhancement. The inclusion of cow ghee in regulated proportions can work wonders for your health!

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