In Ayurveda, ghee or clarified butter is considered one of the most sacred and healing substances. Ghee is made by keeping butter on low flame till the water gets evaporated and milk solids begin to change color, leaving behind the pure fat. Stain using a metal strainer and store in a clean and dry container. When Ayurveda talks about ghee, it is usually prepared from cow milk.
Ghee is revered for its ability to nourish the body, mind, and spirit. Ghee, or clarified butter, is said to increase Ojas (vital life force) and is an essential component in many Ayurvedic therapies and recipes. It is known for its ability to enhance digestion, improve absorption of nutrients, promote mental clarity, and skin health, and support overall health and longevity. Its unique molecular structure allows it to penetrate deeply into cells, making it an ideal medium for delivering medicinal herbs.
In Ayurveda, ghee is also considered beneficial for people with diabetes. It is considered to be a healthier alternative to many cooking oils that can be harmful to diabetics. Ghee, when used properly, can have several benefits for diabetics as it supports digestion, enhances metabolism, and nourishes tissues.
How Ghee Works as a Detoxifying Agent:
- Supports Digestion: Ghee stimulates Agni (digestive fire), improving digestion and absorption of nutrients. A healthy digestive system is crucial for detoxification.
- Removes Toxins: Its deeply lubricating quality helps in detoxification by drawing out toxins from the body’s tissues and facilitating their removal through the digestive system. Ghee helps mobilize and eliminate Ama (toxins) from tissues and the digestive tract. It lubricates the body internally, helping toxins flow out easily.
- Balances Doshas: Ghee is tridoshic, meaning it balances all three doshas (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha) when used in moderation. Stabilizing these energies helps support better digestion, metabolism, and blood sugar regulation.
Ghee and Diabetes:
- Improves Glycemic Control: Ghee has a low glycemic index and does not spike blood sugar levels. It can even slow down the absorption of sugars in the bloodstream when consumed with other foods, aiding blood sugar regulation.
- Enhances Insulin Sensitivity: Healthy fats in ghee can improve insulin sensitivity, which is crucial for diabetics.
- Promotes Weight Loss: Ghee contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which help in burning fat and reducing weight—a key factor for managing diabetes.
- Reduces risk of heart disease: Linolenic acid present in ghee may help in reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases which are some of the complications in diabetics.
- Source of healthy fat: Ghee is a rich source of good fat, which is considered healthy. It helps in absorbing nutrients from the food you consume.
- Controls blood sugar spikes: Ghee when added to high glycaemic foods like rice, may help to reduce the impact of carbohydrates on your blood sugar levels. Research showed that when rice was prepared with ghee in an open vessel, it did not increase blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes patients.
- Healthy gut: Ghee can help smooth the digestive tract and ensure a healthy gut. It can help relieve constipation and keep the body healthy.
- Improves immunity: Ghee is a rich source of fat-soluble vitamins like A, B, and K along with other compounds. These help in boosting immunity, which generally gets weakened in diabetics.
- Anti-Inflammatory Properties: Ghee is a source of butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid, which helps in reducing inflammation and promotes healthy gut flora.
- Enhances Skin Health: Ghee is highly moisturizing and promotes glowing, supple skin by deeply nourishing the skin cells. It also helps with conditions like dryness, eczema, and inflammation prevalent in diabetes.
How to Use Ghee for Diabetic Health and Detox:
- Small Daily Consumption: A small teaspoon of ghee can be taken daily in the morning on an empty stomach, mixed with warm water, or in herbal teas. This helps kickstart digestion and detoxification. You add a little cow ghee in warm unsweetened turmeric milk and take it at night. This promotes better digestion and supports a calm, balanced metabolism. Ghee is also a component of Chyawanprash, which when taken with milk, supports health in many ways. Look for a low-sweetness or no-sugar alternative Chyawanprash for diabetics.
- Ghee in Meals: Use ghee as a healthy fat alternative for cooking, especially for sautéing vegetables, and preparing soups, and dals. Its stable fat content ensures it does not form harmful compounds at high heat, making it ideal for cooking. Consume ghee in warm foods only. It is beneficial to consume it with fiber-rich foods like Daliya to stabilize blood sugar.
Combine ghee with spices such as turmeric, cinnamon, and fenugreek, which are known for their blood-sugar-lowering properties. These spices also help reduce insulin resistance when consumed regularly.
- Ghee Cleansing (Panchakarma): Ayurvedic practitioners sometimes recommend ghee in Snehana (oleation therapy), nasya kriya, and abhyanga as part of Panchakarma detox. Drinking the medicated ghee is part of the internal oleation step. Ghee is used due to its warming properties. It helps in bringing Vata and Pitta doshas back in balance.
It also helps in transporting the properties of the herbs to the deep tissues when used as a medium for herbs. It also moves the deep-seated toxins from the body into the gut ready for their removal during Panchakarma. However, for diabetics, this should be done under expert guidance due to the need for careful balancing of fats and sugars.
Precautions:
- Portion Control: Ghee is heavy and kapha increasing in nature. So, portion control is important. Diabetics must avoid overconsumption due to the calorie density of ghee. It is also important to be physically active to digest ghee.
- Monitor Blood Sugar: Always keep track of your blood sugar levels during a ghee detox program, as fats can affect how your body responds to insulin and glucose.
- Consultation: Always consult with an Ayurvedic practitioner and your doctor before making significant changes in your diet, especially if your sugar levels are not well-regulated. In certain health conditions like liver, heart, and spleen diseases, increasing ghee in your diet might not be recommended.