As we start the new year, a lot of us will set up some goals, embark on diets and make other lifestyle commitments. One of the ones that I see most common, often has to do with cutting fat out completely and going on cleanses. I would like to offer an Ayurvedic perspective on Fat. Despite the fact that Ayurvedic nutrition philosophy doesn’t measure macro-nutrients, Fat is often mentioned in sacred text as one vital component to overall well-being, especially for mothers who intend to have children. So what does Ayurveda say about the importance of fat?
Ancient Ayurvedic texts outlines hundreds of formulations that are based in form of herbal ghee, herbal oils and animal fats. This love affair with oils and fatty substances dates as far back as the history of Ayurveda. Since these ancient times, Ayurveda has described oil application as a form of Snehana or love. The most common way Fats are used in ayurveda are through formulations with oil which provide wide ranging therapeutic effects. These effects are based on the quality of oils themselves, but also by the herbs that the oils are combined with. Here are some of the most common Ayurvedic observed benefits of fats:
• Fatty acids help to carry medicine across the blood-marrow and blood-brain barriers to these extremely hard to reach tissues of the body.
• There is significant evidence that supports the beneficial effects of Omega-3, -6, and -9 fatty acid in supporting would healing. These fatty acids have been found to be effective reducing inflammation, building new blood vessels, improving transportation of nutrition into cells.
• Fatty acids are nourishing and have proven to be effective allies in absorption of fat-soluble healing compounds from plants such as turmeric-based (curcumin) supplements and hormone-balancing herbs like Ashwagandha, Shatavari, Gokhshura, and more.
In addition to specific benefits of fatty acids, ghee is a core component of Ayurvedic nutrition. Adding Ghee on meal, 1-2 teaspoons of uncooked ghee on each of your meals, boosts mineral and vitamin absorption. It is also directly nourishing by helping build our fatty membranes, as well as serves as source of energy.
Contrary our conventional education about effects of fats, there are a lot of benefit to using oils/ghee-based fats in our daily life. Beyond just dietary needs of the body, fats are delivery systems for fat-soluble nutrition and medicinal compounds. They penetrate every tissue of the body, therefore support in strengthening and anti-aging effects on every tissue on the body.
