Did you know that consuming nourishing fats such as ghee (or better yet, Ghruta) supports the health of your brain? Here's how you can improve your memory, focus and clarity with ghee for your brain health!
The Benefits of Ghee for Your Brain
Ayurveda considers ghee to be a medhya rasayana, meaning it supports cognitive health and memory. Contemporary research confirms the value of omega 3 fatty acids in supporting brain health and further research indicates that Ghruta made by the traditional method (as is done at PIOR Living!) has a higher omega 3 content than ghee produced via the industrial method. Also, consider that the myelin sheath—the insulating layer around the nerves and spinal cord—is made of proteins and fat. Furthermore, your brain is 60% fat so you can see why good fats are so nourishing for your brain.
Vata Dosha and the Nervous System
Beyond diet, fatty acids, and building blocks, it is interesting to consider the link between Vata dosha, the nervous system, and the brain. The brain is part of the majja dhatu, or the nervous system and nerve tissue. Vata dosha has a special connection to the nervous system. Though the nerve tissue and brain is largely composed of fat which relates to Kapha dosha, Vata dosha is typically the culprit when there are issues with the nervous system(1). Many issues of the nervous system are related to depletion, which tends to be a Vata issue. Therefore, to keep the nerve tissue and brain well-nourished and lubricated, eating ghee is the perfect remedy!
How To Boost Brain Health with Ghee
So how do you enjoy ghee for your brain? Simply start cooking with ghee on a regular basis. You can also add it to your coffee, tea, soups, and smoothies. Also, you can take ghee or Ghruta with special brain and nervous-system supportive herbs to amplify the effects of both the ghee and the herbs. Gotu kola, brahmi, shankhapushpi, ashwagandha, and turmeric are a few herbs that improve cognitive function and health. You can infuse these herbs into ghee or ghruta by a slow-heating process. Or, a simple way to combine the two is to add a teaspoon of ghee and a teaspoon of powdered herbs to hot water and sip as a tea. Staying healthy means tending to more than our exterior. To stay vibrant from the inside out, we need to consider giving food to our deeper tissues, including our organic body and brain. Ghee and ghruta feed all our tissue layers, providing deep nourishment from the inside out.
Greta Kent-Stoll is a Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner (NAMA), as well as a writer, editor, and Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher. Her Ayurveda practice is based in Asheville, North Carolina and she is the co-owner of Iyengar Yoga Asheville.