An Ayurvedic Love Letter to the Golden Nectar!
If you’ve been a student in one of my Nutrition or Ayurveda classes, you’ve probably heard me say this more times than you can count:
“Ghee is my life!”
Yes, I can survive without food, but not without ghee! If you’re smiling right now, you know exactly what I mean.
There’s something absolutely blissful about the aroma of ghee melting over a warm bowl of khichari (a nourishing blend of basmati rice and mung beans), or drizzled on a freshly made roti or chapatti. Yum! If you’ve ever experienced this golden delight, you understand why ghee is an essential part of every Ayurvedic kitchen.
What is Ghee?
Ghee is made by gently simmering butter to remove its milk solids. What remains is a golden, fragrant fat—free of lactose, whey, and casein proteins—that’s easier to digest for many people, especially those with sensitivities. However, if you have a severe allergy to milk proteins, it’s best to avoid it.
Thanks to the removal of milk solids, ghee has a much higher smoke point than butter—up to 482°F (250°C)—making it ideal for sautéing, frying, or cooking at high temperatures. Unlike many oils, ghee doesn’t easily oxidize or release harmful toxins when heated.
Ghee in Ayurveda
Used in Ayurvedic cooking, healing rituals, and religious ceremonies for thousands of years, ghee is deeply revered. Why? Because it is considered a sattvic food—pure, peaceful, and full of life-giving energy (prana).
As per Ayurveda it is believed that every food substance has energy which could be either Sattvic (peace, purity, love, balance & harmony), Rajasic (action, movement) or Tamasic (Inertia, darkness, dullness).
“Ghee holds a pure or a sattvic energy“
Sattvic foods are abundant in prana, the universal life force. They have a harmonious and peaceful nature & support physical strength, a pure mind, good health, and longevity to achieve our life’s purpose. Foods that are sweet in taste and nourishing to the body are sattvic in nature. Some examples of sattvic foods are fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, fresh milk, grains, legumes, nuts and of-course Ghee.
A Sattvic diet is sometimes referred to as a yogic diet that takes us towards our higher purpose of life! Because of the sattvic energy in ghee, it was often an integral part of religious ceremonies in ancient Vedic customs. Ghee is offered to “Agni”, the Hindu God of Fire, during religious rituals.
Rajasic foods are stimulating and increase the energy of the body and mind and give us that drive to fulfill our desires. They could contribute to physical and mental stress. Small amounts of rajasic foods are not a problem in an otherwise balanced life, but a diet made up of too many rajasic foods overstimulates the body and mind and will lead to doshic imbalances in the body leading to disease. Some examples of rajasic vegetables are eggplant, onions, leeks, tomatoes, bell peppers, hot peppers (chilis), radishes. Pungent and heating spices, black tea and coffee are also considered rajasic.
Tamasic foods create heaviness and lethargy physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Eating tamasic foods lead to dullness & lack of motivation. Some examples of tamasic foods are canned foods, rancid nuts and seeds, alcohol, all animal flesh, artificial sweeteners, barbecued or burnt foods, food with preservatives or synthetic ingredients, deep fried foods, frozen foods, leftovers, margarine, all refined sugar, smoked food, microwaved food.
Now don’t think that we are only supposed to eat sattvic foods. We need a good balance of sattvic foods and good quality & right quantity of both rajasic and tamasic foods for various reasons and for carrying out various roles in our life. This could be a whole topic of discussion in itself, maybe I will bring it up in detail in another blog!
Health Benefits of Ghee
Let’s explore why ghee is celebrated as a superfat in Ayurveda:
- Boosts Digestion: Ghee fuels agni, your digestive fire, aiding in the absorption and assimilation of nutrients.
- Detoxifies the Body: Ghee is a key component in Ayurvedic cleansing practices like panchakarma, as many toxins are fat-soluble and can be drawn out with ghee.
- Carries Herbal Medicine Deep Into the Tissues: Ghee acts as a carrier (anupana) to deliver the healing properties of herbs and spices to the cellular level.
- Lubricates the Joints: Ghee’s unctuous nature supports flexibility and strength.
- Nourishes the Reproductive System: Internally, it soothes and supports reproductive health.
- Soothes the Skin: Externally, ghee calms dry or irritated skin—perfect for baby care and adult skin alike.
- Rich in Butyric Acid: This short-chain fatty acid supports gut health and immunity, acting like a natural probiotic.
A Note of Caution
Ghee is kapha-genic, meaning it can increase kapha dosha when consumed in excess. If your digestive fire (agni) is weak, or you struggle with high cholesterol or excess weight, moderation is key. It is especially beneficial for vata and pitta constitutions, but kapha-dominant individuals should use it sparingly.
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Preeti Syal
M.Sc., R.H.N., Certified Ayurvedic Lifestyle Consultant
The content provided in my blogs are for knowledge sharing purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.