Ayurveda teaches that ghee and ghruta offer many health benefits. From boosting agni (digestive fire) to nourishing the brain, replenishing the skin, and building ojas (vigor/vitality), ghee has a lot to offer. In addition, ghee stands up to high temperature cooking and it is a tasty choice for frying, roasting, baking, and spreading. With ghee gaining popularity, more people are curious about which ghee is best and where to buy the highest quality. Read on to learn more!
Why Grass Fed Ghee is Better for You
Scientific studies show that ghee and butter which come from grass fed cows are better for you than ghee and butter which come from grain-fed cows. A study by the International Journal of Vitamin Nutritional Research found that grass fed milk had a higher omega 3 fatty acid content as compared the milk of grain fed cows (2). In addition grass fed butter has higher amounts of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a type of fatty acid that may support heart health.
Also, intuitive wisdom supports this. Grass fed cattle eat the way that nature intended, munching on a variety of seasonal, wild grasses and herbs. According to Ayurveda, the nutrition and plant wisdom from those varied plants is passed on through the milk of the cows. The result is milk that is more nutritious and medicinal.
Grass Fed Ghee Even Tastes Better Than Grain Fed
Not only is grass fed ghee better for you, most people find that grass fed ghee tastes better too. A 2016 study that compared the taste and nutritional quality of butter from grass fed versus grain fed cows found that the butter from pasture fed cows was both nutritionally superior and better tasting than that of grain fed (1). Consumers reported significant preference in terms of flavor, color, and appearance of the grass fed butter as compared to the grain fed (1).
Buying the Highest Quality Grass Fed Ghee
When you buy grass fed ghee, make sure you also consider the treatment of the cows and whether it was made ayurvedically. This will ensure you are buying the highest quality ghee available.
PIOR Living offers Ghruta ghee which is made from free-range, grass fed Indian Gir cows that roam the Gujarati plains and forests of India. The ghee is also made according to Ayurvedic traditions. Learn more about Ghruta ghee and how it is superior to conventional ghee.
References
(1) O’Callaghan, T. F., Faulkner, H., McAuliffe, S., O’Sullivan, M. G., Hennessy, D., Dillon, P., Kilcawley, K. N., Stanton, C., & Ross, R. P. (2016). Quality characteristics, chemical composition, and sensory properties of butter from cows on pasture versus indoor feeding systems. Journal of dairy science, 99(12), 9441–9460. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2016-11271
(2) Hebeisen DF, Hoeflin F, Reusch HP, Junker E, Lauterburg BH. Increased concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids in milk and platelet rich plasma of grass-fed cows. Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 1993;63(3):229-33. PMID: 7905466.
Greta Kent-Stoll is a Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner (NAMA), as well as a writer, editor, and Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher. She is the co-owner of Iyengar Yoga Asheville. You can learn more about Greta and her Ayurveda practice at asheville.ayurveda.net.
