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
In a research study published in 1967, two populations in India were studied. The first population lived in northern India and were meat and ghee eaters. They did in fact have high cholesterol.

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
Ghee: has been used in India for thousands of years - if it caused deadly cholesterol, the country would have eaten themselves to death decades ago.

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 sattwic or holy food - Organic ghee is among those few foods listed in Ayurveda that promote spiritual energy. You can say spirituality is the subtlest form of nutrition that is only available through certain foods, such as 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

Bibliography
Ayurveda Encyclopedia - by Swami Sadashiva Tirtha
Ghee: A Guide To The Royal Oil - by Kathryn S. Feldenkreis
Hinduism Today: Jan/Feb/Mar 2002 issue. Page 14.

You will find organic Purity Farms ghee at better health food stores or by emailing the company.

This article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended to treat, diagnose or prescribe. It in no way is intended to substitute for care from duly licensed health professionals.